Dualism Explored Duality is a literary idea that allows for two separate and contradictory elements to coincide with the other in the creation of harmony. Many circumstances call for the opposite elements to highly contrast in nature as these elements evolve from a singular entity into that which is two ideas. In this insular item, both aspects must be present in the picture of the item or the representation is incomplete. Shakespeare and Robert Lewis Stevenson entertain the idea of dualism within certain items and characters. Romeo and Juliet and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde use various herbal supplements and elements that represent both life and death. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are contradictory characters residing in a singular body. Medicinal and toxic substances are explored within both literary works as a singular item carries two representations that hold the potential of both. It is through the concept of life and death that the literary use of duality allows for a singular entity, whether it be a plant or person, to hold two different aspect which promotes either the life or death notion. The duality of life and death is a common theme in relation to the use of herbs as tonics to cure and to aid, while the potency of the same herb can also cause death. The inclusion of the earth and the elements that can be combined to either provide healing medicinal properties or a method for death is a common idea that most characters in in Romeo and Juliet
Discuss Stevenson’s presentation of duality in ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’.
Duality is having two parts or sides. An example of this would be in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; the book portrays that there are two sides to the human nature, good and evil. Jekyll is portrayed as the good, and Hyde is the evil. Jekyll wants to keep that side of him as a respected man, but when he wants to do things that might not be respected he can turn into Hyde. Romeo and Juliet also have dualities including the duality of light and dark. Romeo and Juliet both start out in the dark, as Romeo endures failed love and Juliet has to deal with forced marriage and rules enforced by her parents. When they see one another they compare each other to light. Robert Louis Stevenson’s book The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
From the beginning of time, humans have questioned the validity of intrinsic duality of man. Are humans born with both pure goodness and pure evilness or is the latter cultivated? In Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, one man, a scientist named Henry Jekyll, concludes that all men are both good and evil, so he decided to separate the two natures within one body. The outcome of his experiment resulted in the formation of a somewhat different product than he had imagined a creature by the name of Edward Hyde. Although Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are the souls of one body, there are differences and similarities in their appearance and personality that illustrate the natural duality of good and evil within a man.
Another book that duality plays a huge role in is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Duality is presented in this book by the characters Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde representing good and evil. The author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, First name Stevenson, expresses duality through the two
The debate of whether man is born entirely good or evil is a universal discussion that never seems to resolve. Even though a human is a complex individual who cannot be defined by a simple assessment, the people of today are convinced that there is a straightforward explanation as to why acts of wickedness exist. Some believe negative influences taint the naturally innocent heart of man, while others suppose evil men are born with an unavoidable capacity for darkness. This however, suggests that the wicked are created from birth without morals or the ability to be considered righteous. Despite the theories that exist, good and evil are not always separate. Man typically is neither solely good or bad, but a combination of the both. In the
Juliet by the apothecary having herbs in his shop. Also, the poison that is given to Romeo is
In the passage spoken by Friar Laurence Act IV, Scene V, he says “For though some nature bids us all lament, Yet nature’s tears are reason’s for merriment”. This says that nature may bring reason to mourn, but we must be happy when all seems lost. Which may seem weird because mourning over death should not bring merriment, but rather bring a time of sorrow. Which relates to the motif, because Romeo and Juliet loved each other so much that they were willing to die to be with one another. I’m sure this brought physical pain to themselves and mental pain to their friends and family, but in the end they would be happy with their tragedy, together. In this story sometimes things that may seem morbid, are actually quite virtuous. In another passage spoken by Friar Laurence in Act II, Scene III, he pronounced “The earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb; What is her burying grave that is her womb”. At first analysis of this sentence, it seems macabre, being that one dies where they are born. Yet upon further examination the exclamation becomes more meaningful and sort of joyful. The thought of one peacefully dying where they belong doesn’t seem morbid at all. That is what Romeo and Juliet do,
When showing the physical and emotional damage caused to others when leading a double life, Stevenson and Nolan use somewhat polarising methods of doing so with their characters through simile, pathetic fallacy, and motif. Stevenson, in Jekyll & Hyde, uses simile and metaphor to show the destructive nature of Hyde when he encountered Sir Danvers Carew:
The narrative, ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson is about a scientist who creates a drug that allows him to switch between two different beings. Stevenson's descriptions of London during the day and night and his use of pathetic fallacies, help create a tense atmosphere. As the plot progresses, we notice that Stevenson's descriptions become darker, as evil is taking over. He describes London during the day at a lighter judgement, and Dr. Jekyll’s purity is being represented by the atmosphere at the start of the novel. On the contrary, the shadows and casting fog represent Hyde and the evil that emanates within him.
“Romeo and Juliet,” is a famous love story, the main lovers are portrayed as star-crossed lovers who take their lives to be together. There deaths are at the fault of five different subjects, who all took a part in being responsible to an extent for the deaths of both Romeo and for Juliet. In this essay I intend to show these five subjects and explain why they are at fault for the deaths.
The novel Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson contains frequent situations where conflicts among the characters arise. This literary classic also has a prominent and iconic villain depicted in one of the title characters, Mr. Hyde. The general plot of the novel is as follows; Utterson, a respected lawyer, and Enfield, Utterson’s cousin, are on their weekly walk when Enfield tells Utterson about his first encounter with Hyde. During his retelling, Enfield explains how he witnesses Hyde trample a young girl in the street and then pay for her family’s silence in the matter. Utterson nor Enfield are one to indulge in gossip, so they put an abrupt end to the conversation. Soon thereafter, Utterson visits his and Jekyll’s mutual
The duality of man is something that is apparent in all forms. Everyone has a part of them that they hide from others. That part doesn’t necessarily have to be bad but it is your choice to hide it from other and the reason is only known by you. However you are not just one or the other because you are human which means as a person you are made up of both Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde.
the desire to do what he wanted, to go against the rigid rules of the
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson and “Macbeth” by Shakespeare are novels that involve the theme of duality through good and evil aspects. Duality refers to having two parts, often with opposite meanings, like the duality of good and evil. In both the novels, the theme of duality is portrayed through setting, sleep, human nature and appearance. This literary technique is used to show the extremes of good and evil, and by using these elements, authors are able to cover an entire spectrum of good and evil through the several themes.
The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Stevenson, and the novel Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, all prominently display themes of duality. These works of literature all depict mankind and its actions as two sided. Each work of literature exhibits the theme of good and evil which exists in everyone and cannot occur separately in humans.