How Stevenson Depicts the Relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

How Stevenson Depicts the Relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson wanted to gradually show the relationship

between Jekyll and Hyde in his story. It does not state until the end

of the story that they are in fact the same person, he instead leaves

it for people to work out for themselves, with a brief explanation at

the end of the book. For most of the story, nobody can explain their

relationship, as they are never seen together. People are confused as

to how they know each other and became such good friends. Clues are

given throughout the story that they are the same person; not enough

to guess on your own, but so that it all makes sense in the end. These

clues include the fact that Hyde once goes into Jekyll's home and

takes out Jekyll's chequebook to pay out of Jekyll's bank account.

People found this very strange, 'a man does not, in real life, walk

into a cellar door at four o'clock in the morning and come out of it

with another man's cheque'. This gives the idea that they must be very

close friends to share a bank account, or that Jekyll would give Hyde

entry to his account. Their relationship is depicted as business-like,

and as if they have known each other for a long time. The latter part

of this is true in a way. The have an interesting relationship, they

need each other to live. Hyde uses Jekyll as a body to carry out his

evil and Jekyll uses Hyde to get rid of his burning desires and

stress, I think that Robert Louis Stevenson intended to use this in a

way to show that they rely on each other and because one has begun to

depend on the other, they could not live without each other even

though they have so much hatred towards one another. At one point

their relations...

... middle of paper ...

... good idea

from Robert Louis Stevenson as it gives a clearer impression to the

readers about Jekyll and Hyde's relationship with each other and shows

their personalities and how they differ.

Another interesting way the existence of Hyde can be perceived is that

he is the meaning of evil, 'that child of Hell' sent to destroy lives.

One character saw himself as the person to hunt down evil, though in

the end he was unsuccessful, 'If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek', a

clever play on words suggesting evil against good. Black is often

linked with evil, Hyde is only used during the night time when it is

dark and he has dark hair, as opposed to Jekyll only being himself in

the light and having fair hair; another difference between them. His

general appearance also looks evil to those who see it; Hyde's visage

is described as 'Satan's signature on a face'.