Jekyll & Hyde: Humanity's Dual Nature
Exploring the theme of duality in Stevenson's classic novella Understanding the conflict between good and evil within us all
Meet Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish author born in 1850 Wrote Jekyll & Hyde in 1886 Inspired by his own struggles with illness and morality Story written after a vivid nightmare
The Central Theme
'All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil' - Robert Louis Stevenson
Dr. Jekyll vs Mr. Hyde: Character Analysis
{"left":"Respectable Victorian gentleman\nWell-educated doctor and scientist\nConcerned with reputation and social standing\nRepresents civilization and moral restraint\nPhysically described as tall and handsome","right":"Primitive and violent\nRepresents pure evil and selfish desires\nSmaller in stature, described as deformed\nActs without conscience or social constraints\nEmbodies humanity's dark impulses"}
The Science Behind the Transformation
Jekyll creates a potion to separate his dual nature Believes he can isolate and control his evil side The transformation becomes increasingly difficult to control Science vs. nature - who wins?
Duality in Everyday Life
Think of a time when you felt conflicted between doing the 'right' thing and what you wanted to do Share with a partner: What influences helped you make your decision? Class discussion: How do we manage our different impulses?
Victorian Society and Hypocrisy
Strict moral codes and social expectations Public respectability vs. private desires The pressure to maintain a perfect reputation Jekyll's transformation as an escape from social constraints
Critical Thinking Challenge
Is it possible to be completely good or completely evil? What does the story suggest about trying to separate these parts of our nature? How might the story be different if Jekyll had found a healthy way to express his desires?
The Transformation Process
Lessons for Today
We all have different aspects to our personality The importance of acknowledging both our strengths and weaknesses Finding healthy ways to express different sides of ourselves The danger of extreme repression or extreme indulgence