Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Key Theme: Duality (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Note

Duality mind map 

The theme of duality in key chapters of Jekyll and Hyde:

What are the elements of duality in Jekyll and Hyde?

• Jekyll’s double life: Jekyll represents the respectable, moral side of human nature while Hyde symbolises his repressed evil and primal instincts:

  • Stevenson hints at Jekyll’s dual nature by describing him as having “every mark of capacity and kindness” but also having “something of a slyish cast perhaps”

  • While Stevenson uses imagery linked to pain and sickness when Jekyll transforms into Hyde, he also alludes to his excitement 

• London setting: Stevenson uses Victorian London as a symbol of duality by portraying a city where respectability and evil exist side by side:

  • Stevenson describes affluent streets next to areas of degradation and poverty which reveals the duality of the city

• Jekyll’s house and laboratory: The doors to Jekyll’s home are a physical representation of the duality of his character:

  • Jekyll’s house has a grand and well-maintained entrance which reflects his outward status as a respected scientist

  • In contrast, the back door is associated with Hyde and is depicted as “blistered and distained”, symbolising the evil lurking beneath

• The final confession: At the end of the novella, Jekyll finally comprehends the inseparability of human nature and how the more sinister side has come to dominate his character:

  • “The balance of my nature might be permanently overthrown”

The impact of duality on characters

The theme of duality is prevalent throughout the novella and has an impact on many of the characters. 

Why does Stevenson use the theme of duality in his novella?

1.  Setting and atmosphere 

• Depicts a Victorian society where the duality of good and evil coexist

• Contrasts Jekyll’s grand home with the neglected and sinister back entrance used by Hyde

2. Plot driver 

• Drives the narrative through Jekyll’s experiments and his creation of Hyde

3. Audience appeal 

• Reflects Victorian anxieties regarding the possibility that a duality exists within every individual 

4. Narrative device  

• Heightens suspense by concealing Hyde’s true identity which makes the final revelation more shocking to the reader

Exam-style questions on the theme of duality

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of duality: 

• Explore how Stevenson uses settings to reflect the theme of duality. (You could start with the contrasting descriptions of Jekyll’s respectable house and the sinister back entrance used by Hyde.)

• How does Stevenson use the theme of duality to explore the darker side of human nature? (You could start with the portrayal of Hyde as the embodiment of Jekyll’s repressed desires.)