I Took a Break From Binge-Watching Lost to Write This Blog

Side Note: This whole duality of nature thing never even occurred to me until when I had nearly finished the book. I was completely underwhelmed during the entire first half of the novel because Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a literary classic that is critically acclaimed. However, I began to appreciate its values much more during the last half, and it gets REALLY interesting…

Step One:

First off, I want to say the majority of this play focuses on the connection between physical appearance and the “goodness” of a person. Goodness is in quotations because it is not a technical term, but rather one that I am using to describe a person’s quantity and quality of ethical and moral standards that they hold themselves too. Dr. Jekyll is described as a sleek, attractive man with an even more attractive job, a doctor, where he quite literally saves people's’ lives every day. This automatically causes the reader to associate Jekyll with positive emotions - he’s the firefighter who rescues kittens from trees. In contrast, when Enfield sees Hyde for the first time, he describes him as “deformed,” despite never getting a clear view at his face. This intuitive feeling, combined with Hyde’s horrific actions, further establishes the connection between physical appearance and the innate goodness of a person.

Compounding with the connection between appearance and goodness is each respective characters’ actions. Jekyll speaks “gaily” and treats Utterson with a warmth and respect usually reserved for family - that is until the name Hyde is mentioned. In contrast, Mr. Hyde is extremely abrupt and ill-mannered during Enfield’s encounter, signifying his “badness” despite his payment of one hundred pounds. These contrasting actions further institute a connection between actions and whether they are a good person. It also causes the reader to be shocked when learning the truth about each character, and helps them to understand the allegory behind the story.

Each character also has similarities. While Jekyll appears to be kind-hearted and loving, his inner voice (cue the overused Kermit meme) is cold, bitter, and unrelenting. This is evidenced by the blackness in his eyes when Hyde’s name is said. Similarly, despite Hyde’s ugliness, the reader feels sympathy (possibly unwilling) that causes them to think that maybe Hyde isn’t all that bad of a person. This plays off of the dichotomy of appearance vs. reality, something extremely prevalent throughout the play/novel.

Step 2:

I really wanted to play off of the last idea that I talked about in my post, appearance vs. reality. I think it’s a major 🔑  to understanding the rest of the play and the deeper meaning behind it.

Duality’s Deception

Jekyll: Hyde:

I am a doctor - each day I work,

I make someone’s life better.                 

 I am a criminal - each day I work                             

  I make their lives worse.

I am attractive and kind, yet

Inside me there is darkness

I am deformed and malicious, despite

The natural human good within me.

I treat Utterson as a brother,

Despite no blood relation.

I need nobody to count on, as

I alone am worthy of my friendship.

    

A friend to society

Is a definite enemy of mine.

We are Jekyll and Hyde. We are Jekyll and Hyde.

The product of emotion and The product of emotion and

Humanity’s flaws. Humanity’s flaws.