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Jekyll and Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores the duality of human nature and a struggle of good versus evil.  Mr. Hyde's struggle is portrayed constantly throughout the novella as his anger is uncontrollable.  Stevenson writes that "all of a sudden broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing his cane, and carrying on like a madman." In the novella, Mr. Hyde's appearance is displayed as a man infatuated with evil and has a constant struggle to suppress this evil.  Hyde's evil is characterized by his actions, most dramatically would be him committing murder.  These actions however are also uncontrollable because they spur from moments of anger and irrationality.  The good versus evil comparison then comes into play when Dr. Jekyll's characterization is revealed, a man full of good deeds and little anger.  Stevenson writes that "He was busy, he was much in the open air, he did good; his face seemed to open and brighten."  This shows that Jekyll was seen as a happy, genuine man with good intentions, the opposite of the portrayal of Hyde. 

Jekyll and Hyde are contrasted strongly through their appearance.  Hyde is described as an angry man, and in that Stevenson includes a simile comparing Hyde to "a madman."  The comparison to a madman then creates an image in the readers mind of Hyde's appearance being that of something crazy and not welcoming.  On the other hand, Jekyll's appearance is described by "his face seemed to open and brighten."  This places a positive image of Jekyll in the readers mind, as someone who is welcoming and kind.  Stevenson also uses differing tones when describing the two characters.  There is a dark and almost threatening tone when describing Hyde and a blissful tone when describing Jekyll. The difference in tones being polar opposites creates even more of a comparison between the two characters.  This greater comparison then emphasizes good versus evil and the duality of human nature. 

Jekyll                                                                  Hyde

I'm not ready                                                      I'm not ready
For them to know my secret                              For the consequences
It's become unbearable                                      It's become unbearable
If only they knew                                              If only they knew
I'm not who they think I am                              I'm not the evil they see
The pressure has become too much                  I don't know if it could get much worse
But when they find out,                                    But I'm not the man they see
I'll never be trusted again                                  I am breaking
I am warm for now                                           I am cold
But soon will cool                                             And I always will be

The purpose of this poem is to communicate the personal thoughts and feelings of Jekyll and Hyde.  Hyde knows that he is hated and despised, yet he is stuck in a place of not knowing what to do.  He knows deep down he isn't who everyone sees, but he doesn't know how much longer he can take the judgement.  Jekyll suffers from an outward appearance of being happy and warm, but an internal battle is raging keeping in his secrets.  He knows he can only do this for so long, and the poem displays how his inner struggles are corrupting him.