Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

This paragraph is about the contrast between Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll. When Stevenson describes Mr. Hyde as ‘‘deformed’’ this suggests he is unnatural and abnormal. In contrast Stevenson describes Dr. Jekyll as ‘‘well-made, smooth faced man of fifty which suggests that Dr. Jekyll is attractive, good looking man at his fifties. Also Stevenson uses the words ‘‘so ugly’’ which suggests that people don’t like how he looks and also he is not a pleasant man. This idea of contrast is linked to duality because there is two sides’ to a man one side that is a superior person and another side that is an inferior person.

Furthermore this paragraph is about the contrast between Sir Danvers Carew and Mr. Hyde. Sir Danvers Carew is described as ‘‘pretty manner of politeness.’’ This suggests that Sir Danvers Carew is a respectful person. In contrast, Mr. Hyde is presented as ‘‘ill contained impatience and ape-like fury.’’ These suggest that Mr. Hyde has quick temper and has abnormal behaviour. This is emphasised by the use of other words such as ‘‘like a madman.’’ This also shows his quick temper and the way he can act towards somebody else. I think Stevenson has created a strong contrast between the descriptions of the characters because we can see a huge difference between Sir Danvers Carew and Mr. Hyde it also links to the idea of duality because we can see the two sides which a human being could carry out.

The structure that Stevenson uses is connected to duality. Duality here is that we hear the story in two points of view. The first view is from Dr. Jekyll’s friends, Mr. Utterson and Dr. Lanyon. The second view is we hear the story from the point of view of Dr. Jekyll also Mr. Hyde. At the beginning we hear the story from Mr. Utterson point of view. The reader feels worried of whom Mr. Hyde is and Dr. Jekyll is also how they are connected. When the story is told from the point of view of Dr. Lanyon we hear that Mr. Hyde turns into Dr. Jekyll in front of Dr. Lanyon after Mr. Hyde taking the potion. This makes the reader feel shocked and the reader reveals that Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll are one. Lastly when Dr. Jekyll confesses all things he has done and how he has become Mr. Hyde, the reader will feel shocked and also will have a better understanding of what has happened. The essay has showed how Stevenson used the theme of duality in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Duality is explored in the setting by Stevenson firstly showing the two sides of London then the two sides of the characters. Also explores the idea of evil and good with a secret potion. That has been made to split the good and evil side of human nature. The behaviour of the character who has used this potion is described as ‘‘animal like.’’ The way they have been keeping secrets to themselves without showing their emotions on the outside is a tradition in the Victorian time which is the period this book has been published. Stevenson is trying to show that humans have two sides to them and can’t be separated.