The Dual Nature Of Evil In Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is in many ways a modern thriller as much as it is a 19th century gothic novella. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde delve into the human psyche and spur us to reevaluate our own identity as a human and the power of vices and evil indulgences. As much as it shows the differences between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde it also shows the need for the two sides of good and evil, black and white, to make us human. Greatly condensed, Dr Jekyll’s quest to eradicate his evil ultimately spurs the demise of the entire novella. Robert Louis Stevenson shows that man cannot seek to separate its two sides, the balance between good and evil is what makes us human and must coexist. Victorian society was in an environment where indulging vices were increasingly common and accepted (for men).

After indulging to their heart’s content they would leave their wrongdoing over in the East End and return to their families as responsible adults. This created a sort of double life for the average working man, struggling with the dual nature of their identity. This duality is reflected in Jekyll’s desire to succumb to vices but also the guilt that comes with it, eventually causing him to try to remove his evil side and desires. This novella is still very much relevant today as much as it reflected Victorian society as our inherent human nature is still evident. Our society in a way is also similar to the one reflected in the novel as almost all of us mask our true selves whether it be on social media or among different