Human Nature: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Human nature: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by author Robert Louis Stevenson is a novel about a man who

struggles with social conviction and finds a less than perfect way to solve it. Dr. Jekyll cultivates a

potion with an impurity that splits his respectable, socially acceptable self from the side that wants

to act on every impulse. An example that shows the difference between the two personalities is the

quote “even as good shone upon the countenance of [Jekyll], evil was written broadly and plainly

on the face of [Hyde]”(131). Stevenson uses quotes like this throughout the novel to

display the theme of human nature by showing that even the most respectable and honored man of

society is human and succumbs to his selfish needs. A few ways this is shown is through other

characters such as Mr. Utterson, Mr. Enfield, and Dr. Lanyon. Also, in how Jekyll speaks and how

he acts, likewise through Hyde’s actions and statements.

To begin, Stevenson uses several characters in the book to show human nature by how

they see Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Mr. Enfield is an example of one of the characters that shows

how humans judge partly on appearance before first realizing their true character. Enfield, in

chapter one, describes Hyde appearance in the following statement, “There is something wrong

with his appearance;...something downright detestable” (15) this quote describes Hyde as

deserving contempt and arousing disgust which shows that the nature of a human can be

degrading. However, Mr. Utterson is used to show the benevolent nature of man instead of the

corrupt side. Utterson continues to believe in his colleague, Dr. Jekyll, despite the peculiar

situation that he has burdened h...

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...society such as the “hoodlums” and prostitutes.

Although Hyde isn’t a prostitute he is a murderer, which counteracts Dr. Jekyll’s socially

acceptable demeanor. Although they both reside in the same body, their two characters are

extremely different.

In conclusion, Robert Louis Stevenson used Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to convey the theme

of human nature by using the words and actions of the characters Utterson, Dr. Lanyon, and Mr.

Enfield. The most obvious character used to show this is Dr. Jekyll. Dr. Jekyll’s actions are both

selfish and at the same time of a benevolent nature. Through Hyde we get to see the evil,

murderous actions and statements. Hyde has no sense of morals or guilt. Dr. Jekyll states, “...that

man is not truly one; but truly two”(125). This quote shows that all men possess inside them the

nature to have both good and evil.