Symbols
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde had enough symbolism to put To Kill A Mockingbird to shame. Many elements in the story were there to provoke thought from the audience, elements such as the duality of human nature, to Jekyll's "drug addiction". These ideas were written both in a subtle way as well as loud and bold. Here are a few:
Dual human nature."Man is not truly one, but truly two." This quote, to me, is very powerful because it explains the core existence of Hyde. In the final chapter, we gain an understanding of who Hyde was. We learned that Jekyll was not nearly as good as we thought he was, that in fact his other nature was pure malice. We learned that there lies a demon in everyone, and no matter how respectable of a person he is, there is a second, more primitive nature.
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Drug addiction.Another symbol relating to Jekyll is his drug addiction. Whether you want to believe it or not, Jekyll was in fact a drug addict. He was addicted to the potion he created. Like any sane person, he realized immediately that consuming his home brew was dangerous and completely irrational, but he chose to do it. Once he realized he was in no danger, he assumed the benefits outweighed the risk. Soon, he was taking his potion constantly, becoming dependent on it. Once he finally realized how bad things had gotten out of hand, he tried to quit. "And bade a resolute farewell to the liberty, the comparative youth, the light step, leaping pulses and secret pleasures, that I had enjoyed as Hyde." This did not last long, for in two months, he fell back into his addiction. " And at last, in an hour of moral weakness, I once again compounded and swallowed the transforming drought."
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Hyde's appearance.
Almost every time Hyde is mentioned in the story, something always follows: his appearance. Hyde's appearance is one of the things that makes him a fascinating character. His contrast with Jekyll is not only in personality, but also in appearance. While Jekyll was tall and old, Hyde was short and young. But to be fair, young and short simply isn't enough to describe him. My favorite description of Hyde was a quote from Mr Enfield: "It wasn't like a man; It was like some damned Juggernaut". Hyde is also commonly thought of as deformed, yet not a single character can explain why. Hyde's appearance evokes fear and disgust in those who see him, and that is what makes him a great villain in terms of appearance.
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