Examples Of Duality In Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

The time period in which the renowned novel Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is written

in, is coined "the Victorian age." This age is a time of economic prosperity because of the

industry field and is marked by an ever growing fissure between the upper and lower

classes. It is a time when the wealthy became increasingly more powerful while the

lower ranks of society sink into economic turmoil. This division among citizens

creates a façade within the society as well as the city itself. The upper class choose to

"conform to rigid social standards and to the principal ideas of virtues, ethics, charity and

respectability" (Barone). This "compromise" within the upper class creates a disguise in

which the wealthy may hide their true selves

The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an example of the

duality produced by society's rigid structure for perfection. Pressure to conform to

society's standards caused Dr. Jekyll to adopt a dual

1)" (Buzwell). The front of the home in which Dr. Jekyll presides

portrays the reputable side while, the home of Mr. Hyde signifies the villainous side

of the city. The twist is that the wealthy front and the sordid back are the same

property. The respectable front of the home is utilized to hide its disgraceful counterpart

just as the dual nature in Dr. Jekyll is used to conceal his more primal desires unsuitable

in the society.

Mr. Hyde is portrayed as being deformed in his physical features. Dr. Jekyll

mentions that Hyde's deformities may be a result of being buried underneath

Jekyll's respectable side. Barbara Gates depicts Hyde as a sort of shadow saying, "He is

both monster and shadow par excellence-- another self not only for Jekyll but for all the

presumably upright Victorian bachelors of the story who perceive his deformities and for

whom he becomes both devil and death knell." Hyde is a shadow and the lesser half of

the two personalities because of his despicable personality. He represents the evil and

deplorable nature which Victorian man strives to eradicate from himself. Through Hyde,

Dr. Jekyll is free to indulge in his more incongruous desires while Hyde through