Duality In Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

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Pages: 3

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare are similar in many ways. Both authors use literary devices to write about dual natures in personalities, relationships, and events. The authors might express duality in different ways, but they both contribute to the theme of duality. Stevenson provides multiple forms of duality connected to the potion. Whenever Jekyll first makes the potion, it wasn’t created for harm. It was used to split Jekyll’s dual natures, and make an impressive scientific discovery. But, Jekyll knew that an overdose or possibly death could occur. “I knew well that I risked death; for any drug that so potently controlled and shook the very fortress of identity, might, by the least scruple of an overdose…”(Stevenson 49). However, as Hyde became more developed, he also became more evil. Eventually, the strength of the potion had to be altered to transform him back to Jekyll leading him to misuse the potion.
“The power of the drug had not been always equally displayed. Once, very early in my career, it had totally failed me; since then I had been obliged on one occasion to double, and once, with infinite
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At the beginning of the novel, Jekyll didn’t mind Hyde, and he actually kind of liked him. Jekyll says, “And yet, when I looked upon that ugly idol in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnance, rather of a leap of welcome”(Stevenson 50). However, as time goes by and Jekyll really sees that Hyde is truly evil and he must get rid of him. Jekyll actually liked Hyde, but Hyde eventually turned into Jekyll’s hate. In addition, Juliet says, “My only love sprung from my only hate”(Shakespeare I v 152). However, in this case, Juliet says that the only one she loves is the one she has been taught to hate. Stevenson and Shakespeare use these scenarios to contribute to duality, but they don’t express the same