Theme- Duality Flashcards
Characters + Analysis
DR JEKYLL / MR HYDE
They are two sides of the same person — Jekyll represents social respectability, while Hyde is his repressed, animalistic alter ego.
“Man is not truly one, but truly two.” -Chapter 10 (Jekyll’s confession)
-Paradox: Suggests that the true human condition is dual, not unified.
-Scientific tone: Makes the statement seem rational, even though it relates to a horrifying transformation.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson argues that every person has both good and evil within them. The dual nature of man is not an anomaly but a universal truth, challenging the idea of moral absolutes in Victorian society.
“I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life.” Chapter 10
-“Duplicity”: Emphasises deception and moral contradiction.
-Tone of inevitability: Jekyll sees his double life as something already beyond control.
-Grade 9 Insight: This highlights the pressure to conform to social expectations, which causes Jekyll to live a lie. Stevenson critiques how Victorian values forced people to repress their darker selves, which only made them more dangerous.
“Edward Hyde was pure evil.” -Chapter 10
-Absolutism: “Pure” implies complete moral corruption.
-Contrast: Hyde is what Jekyll becomes when stripped of his conscience.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson literalises the idea of splitting human nature — but ironically, in doing so, Hyde becomes more monstrous than Jekyll imagined. Suggests evil, once freed, is uncontrollable.
DR LANYON
A rational scientist who represents the limits of Victorian science and morality.
“O God!… I cannot, I dare not. It is too much for human endurance.” -Chapter 9 (Lanyon’s letter)
-Exclamatory tone: Suggests emotional and mental collapse.
-Religious language: “O God!” signals fear of unnatural acts.
-Grade 9 Insight: Lanyon’s breakdown reveals the shocking reality of duality. He is unable to cope with the knowledge that one man can be both moral and monstrous. Stevenson critiques rationalism’s inability to accept the complexity of human nature.
MR UTTERSON
The moral centre of the novel, but even he is drawn into the mystery of Jekyll’s duality.
“If he be Mr Hyde… I shall be Mr Seek.” -Chapter 2
-Wordplay: “Hyde” and “Seek” reinforce the theme of hiding truth.
-Moral curiosity: Shows even the most rational men are drawn to the dual lives others lead.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson suggests that everyone, even the seemingly moral, is fascinated by the darker side of human nature. Utterson becomes a seeker of hidden truths — even as he maintains his respectable image.
SYMBOLS & SETTING
“The door… blistered and distained.” -Chapter 1
-Symbolism: Hyde’s entrance is marked by decay and neglect.
-Contrast: Jekyll’s home appears respectable from the front, but the back entrance (used by Hyde) is sordid and ugly.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson uses the dual appearance of the house to reflect the dual nature of Jekyll himself — one side public and honourable, the other private and corrupt.
Characters and of how Duality is shown and analysis
Dr Jekyll- Respectable doctor vs secret sinner
Analysis- Demonstrates how society forces men to hide their desires, leading to inner conflict.
Mr Hyde- Physical manifestation of evil
Analysis- Symbolises the unleashed id, showing the danger of denying the dark side.
Lanyon- Rational scientist vs horrified witness
Analysis- His death shows how the truth of duality destroys the rational mind.
Utterson- Moral lawyer vs curious observer
Analysis- Even the morally upright are drawn to darkness, showing how duality exists in all.
The House- Grand front vs decayed back
Symbolic of Jekyll’s life — public image vs hidden truth.
