English Coursework - Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Authors Avatar

English Coursework – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

How does Robert Louis Stevenson explore the concept of duality in Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde?

Oishee Islam

Introduction

The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was published in 1886. Robert Louis Stevenson used the concept of duality to show the differences between science and religion. Dualistic symbols and events were used through out the story but towards the end there were more religious aspects used than scientific, to differentiate the importance between them.

The characters of Jekyll and Hyde have been used to symbolize the division between science and religion, representing the theory of Darwin.  

Ever since Darwin had published his book “The Origin of Species” his theory affected the thoughts about knowledge and faith in society, this also ruined the reputation of Darwin. Conveying this point, Stevenson uses science and religion to the stage where not only Jekyll and Hyde are affected but also people around them. Stevenson has not only used forms of duality in the context but has also linked two chapters together, the story begins with the description of Hyde “…extraordinary-looking man…Ch 1 pg 17 and ends with Jekyll, mystery to solution, Stevenson did this to show the duality between the two characters and how they are dichotomous objects themselves.  

Join now!

Stevenson uses the fourth chapter to show what Hyde’s character is, he uses dichotomies to state that Hyde is somewhere on the line between each of them “dark and lightCh 4 pg 34 The main instrument used by Hyde is repeated several times “…broken stickCh 4 pg 33 Stevenson has made Hyde completely responsible for the crime and showing how he has become stronger than before. Hyde’s incident is an influence to chapter five. Stevenson changes Jekyll completely compared to how he was in Chapter three, by the appearance “…looking deadly sickCh 5 pg 37 and the ability ...

This is a preview of the whole essay