Dr Jekyll And Hyde Dualism Essay

653 Words3 Pages
It is a commonly understood concept that the universe is under the dominion of two opposing principles, good and evil. Many people believe that there are two opposite and irreducible sides to everything; this philosophy is called dualism. Often dualism is explained in the form of a circular symbol called the ‘yin-yang’; it shows a balance between two opposites with a piece of the opposite element in each part. The concept of dualism has been explored in many stories, films, and poems throughout the years, but perhaps the first and most powerful exploration of the duality of human nature was a story written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886, a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the late 1880s, there was a particular interest in the mysterious subconscious of the human mind. Stevenson’s novel demonstrates this early interest in human consciousness and draws attention to the possibility of a hidden self within us all. During this period of time, social class profoundly divided the city of London. Due to mass immigration from other parts of Europe, the city’s population…show more content…
Opposed to reality, a fantasy solution is presented where a second self is able to carry the consequences of one’s actions. The relationship between Jekyll and Hyde is at first quite mutually amiable. Jekyll almost shows admiration for Hyde in the beginning, intrigued by his confident and uncaring nature; ‘I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil and the thought, in that moment, braced and delighted me like wine.’ The relief that Jekyll feels at the realisation of Hyde’s presence soon subsides when he discovers just how wicked and unpredictable Hyde is. The moment that Hyde brutally attacks and kills a respectable politician, Jekyll realises that his control over Hyde and ultimately himself is
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