Jekyll and Hyde Themes - Duality of Man
- Created by: maha.shahzada
- Created on: 03-05-18 20:03
View mindmap
- Duality of Man
- As well as Jekyll, London is also described to have a dual nature - it is described as having "respectable streets existing side by side with areas notorious for their squalor and violence" which is a metaphor for the duality of society, as middle class Victorian people would live a life of hypocrisy of respectability by day and debauchery by night
- Soho, the area of London where Hyde lives, is described as having a dual nature with "a chocolate-coloured pall lowered over heaven" and "a glow of a rich, lurid brown"
- Jekyll's house and neighbourhood are described both positively and negatively with "handsome houses, now for the most part decayed" and "wore a great air of wealth and comfort, though it was now plunged in darkness" which hints at Jekyll's dual nature
- Henry Jekyll "was slowly losing hold of my original and better self, and becoming slowly incorporated with my second and worse", which shows the contrast between Jekyll and Hyde
- Stevenson conveys the message that "man is not truly one, but truly two" and Jekyll recognises the "thorough and primitive duality of man" which suggests that it is natural, exists in everyone and should not be hidden
- The metaphor "my devil had been long caged but came out roaring" suggests that Jekyll repressed his evil side, due to his reputation, which led to the suppressed side becoming more powerful
- Jekyll thought that his two natures could be "housed in separate identities" so that he could be "relieved of all that was unbearable" but he realises that he cannot do this because he was "radically both"
- The concept of having a dual nature links to the theme of secrecy as Jekyll describes himself as "an ordinary secret sinner" but says he "was in no sense a hypocrite" which suggests that Victorian men would often conceal their desires for reputation
Comments
No comments have yet been made