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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

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To comprehend the concept of the duality of human nature, despite its complexity, has two fundamental aspects. The strange case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Stevenson is a story that creatively interprets and explains the view of the duality of human nature. This abstract idea is able to reflect to greater societal concerns in reality as well. Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde centers upon a conception of humanity as dual in nature in that being good and evil. For instance, Dr.Jekyll asserts that, “man is not truly one, but truly two” (Stevenson, 35). Duality is an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something; a dualism. In Jekyll’s perspective every soul contains elements of both good and evil, but one is always dominant. For example, the text says, “All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil..I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both.” (page 45) This connects to society because individuals are both good and evil, but one part of those sides are able to take over the most. This is a concern for society because if the dominant side of them was evil, then this creates chaos, murders, crimes and evil is becoming developed through the community. Another duality that is noticeable in the novela is the setting of the novela. As stated in the text, “The fire burned in the grate; a lamp was set lighted on the chimney shelf, for even in the houses the fog began to lie thickly” (page 14) Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde are not the only examples of duality, but the setting of London is attributed in contrasting terms, as both a foggy, eerie and a nightmarish place. Just like the duality of nature; how men are both positive and negative qualities, so is society. Another quote that contrib

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