Jeykll and Hyde - Number One

Authors note

So far throughout Jeykll and Hyde, I have been repeatedly seeing comparison and contrast between the two, explaining the familiar friend-feeling Utterson has around Jeykll, or even when he is alone, but the dark, mysterious sensation that arises once Hyde approaches the scene. The perfect opposites between the two worlds is even somewhat of exact parallel symmetry, which Stevenson has done a wonderful job so far, indirectly explaining.

Distinctive diversification between the characteristics of Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde demonstrate ultimately exact polar opposites through not only the obvious duality of their approach as people, but through their difference in presence, the enunciating scream of parallel structured universes. As clear as day can be, Jeykll presents himself in a light of positivity. The moment Mr. Hyde comes about, only Utterson, the one far more pure of the two, stands under only a lamp of light; enlightening his solitude and sobriety of the moment in comparison to the darkness Hyde supplies. While standing safely alone in the dead of night, “At last his patience was rewarded… the lamps, unshaken by any wind, drawing a regular pattern of light and shadow.” Once again in reference to Jeykll, the transition between the abominable traits he acquires, flashing in comparison to the dark alter-ego (of a good man) that Hyde possesses, mirror imagery and absolute opposition is highlighted or even more so, simply stated blankly within every sentence. Stevenson is spinning us as an audience into a trance between the chemistry and contradictory the men in this story illustrate; our minds have kept set on the purity and innocence of Dr. Jeykll but the sinister vibe that Mr. Hyde releases into the air through every opportunity that has come- while at the same time, every action, every move, every feature of this evil man reflects directly into a parallel figure that is Dr. Jeykll. The silhouette they each portray matches perfectly inside one another, giving an appeal that these men are not only complete opposites, but identical twins.