Duality In Literature Essay

Duality is a concept displayed throughout many great works of literature, including The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Google defines duality as “an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something.” The concept of duality is an integral part of the human experience and was likely discussed long before the first written works. Many foundational pieces of literature, including the Holy Bible, discuss duality in depth. In addition, it has been seen in plays, poetry, and even some historical literary works. Examples of this might include Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, or the Bible written by the many people who had been inspired or led by God. One could say that all great literary works contain duality in some sense.

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Romeo and Juliet closely examine the benefits and consequences of duality by showing the natural need for balance and comparing the dueling qualities within the authors’ characters.
A critical uncertainty when discussing duality within literature is whether mankind is wholly good, wholly evil, or a balance of the two. In Romeo and Juliet,

Duality is an intrinsic element of human nature as it reflects the internal moral struggle within most individuals. Therefore, it is easy to see how renowned authors like Shakespeare might be drawn to writing about said subject. Duality is explored throughout many great works of literature, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Romeo and Juliet, and is often examined through the use comparison. Often, authors include elements within their stories that emphasize importance of balance when examining character qualities. When discussing duality, as shown in many different mediums of literature, the contesting qualities that characters possess often greatly impact the work as a