Introduction
Can good ever triumph over evil completely? In the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson suggests that, when it comes to human nature, it cannot. Instead, in his novel, evil triumphs over good.
The Contrast Between Jekyll and Hyde
Dr. Jekyll has certain good qualities. He keeps, for instance, good company. Stevenson writes that he gave a dinner for “some five or six old cronics, all intelligent reputable men.” His affection for his friends – at least of Gabriel John Utterson, is genuine. Stevenson describes it as “sincere” and “warm”. Furthermore, Stevenson suggests that he is well known for his charities and “distinguished for religion.” He is often pious and holds certain biblical scriptures dear. He is happy serving others and doing good makes him feel peaceful.
Jekyll’s character is a sharp contrast from that of Edward Hyde’s. Hyde is prone to anger. Rather than helping a small girl who he runs into on the street, Stevenson writes that he “trampled over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.” While it is likely Jekyll would have, instead, shown concern for the child’s welfare, Hyde shows no such consideration. Enfield, who witnesses the act, reports that he was cool, rather than remorseful and that he cast hateful looks at those around him. He even sneers at them. Later, he not only fails to show remorse, but delights in inflicting pain on others. In Jekyll’s confession, he writes that as Hyde, “the spirit of hell” awoke and “with a transport of glee, I mauled the unresisting body, tasting delight from every blow”. This delight comes, not from an attack on someone who could have defended himself, but on an elderly, well liked man, described as having an old-fashioned charm about him. In yet another incident, Jekyll strikes a woman in the face, merely because she offered him a box of lights. He is fearsome and impatient. He has few boundaries and those he does set up, he sets up only to preserve his own life. He is a blasphemer, who intentionally defaces scriptures which Jekyll holds dear. He is vengeful, creating more havoc when Jekyll refuses to let him out than he did beforehand. Meanwhile, Jekyll retains a conscience while Hyde has none. He writes that he cried and prayed to forget and drown out the memory of Hyde’s actions. His remorse and his hatred of Hyde’s evil acts suggest that he has a good side.
Jekyll’s Flaws
On the other hand, while Hyde does not exhibit a single good quality, Jekyll, from the start, exhibits many bad qualities. One of the first things the author tells his readers about Jekyll, is that according to Utterson, he was wild in his youth . Furthermore, much of the good Jekyll does, he seems do for the sake of appearances. He admits that he has a strong desire to engage in “secret pleasures”. Goodness, for him, is almost like a prison. When he engages in improper behavior as hide, he suggests that he has found a “sea of liberty” and he revels in it.
Furthermore, he shirks responsibility. While it is he who intentionally turns himself into Hyde, he continues to turn into Hyde to indulge in pleasure, but accepts none of the blame for Hyde’s actions. In this way, at first, he staves off guilt. Stevenson also hints that Jekyll is inclined to pursue pleasure more than he ought to even while he is his “good” self. While Utterson resigns himself to gin instead of fancy liquors, Jekyll entertains his friends with fine wines.
The War Between Jekyll and Hyde
Still, Jekyll and Hyde are quite different. Because they are so different, they find themselves at war over the same body. The more Jekyll uses Hyde to indulge in pleasure, the stronger Hyde gets. On the other hand, when he denies himself pleasure and does good, Hyde seems to diminish in strength.
Hyde wins this battle. Although he needs Jekyll as a safe harbor and a place to hide to avoid the consequences of his actions, he is otherwise free from the temptation to turn into Jekyll. Jekyll’s life of restraint is not seductive to him, as Hyde’s life of pleasure and passion are to Jekyll. Not even the prospect of being able to live a life full of companionship instead of a friendless one appeals to Jekyll. He would rather live like an animal, free to pursue his passions and free of duty and obligation.
Because Jekyll is not completely good, he does not have the strength to defeat Hyde. The flaws in his nature – even as Jekyll, prevent him from achieving full moral victory. He does win some battles. For a time, he suppresses Hyde, forcing him back by engaging in acts of charity and camaraderie. Yet, ultimately, the flaws in his nature make him prideful and lustful and he finds himself changing into Hyde without even trying.
Jekyll’s inability to prevent himself from turning into Hyde indicates to the reader that Hyde is winning the battle over the Hyde/Jekyll Body. It indicates that evil is triumphing over good. Yet there is more to suggest that evil is triumphant in the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The ultimate end of the two men, too, suggests that Hyde has won. Had good triumphed, we would see Dr. Jekyll, casting Hyde off once and for all and returning to his charities without a glance backward. Instead, Jekyll disappears completely, with Hyde unable to return to his more moral state. Destruction is everywhere. From the death of Carew, to the suicide of Hastie Lyon, we see that Hyde has done irreversible damage to Jekyll’s relationships and reputation. Even Jekyll’s house sustains damage, as Poole and Utterson take an axe to his door, hoping to free him from the clutches of Hyde, who they believe has murdered him.
It is true that Hyde is not perfectly happy at the end of the story. In fact, it possible to think that by killing himself, Jekyll also kills Hyde and, therefore, triumphs over him. Yet even if Jekyll triumphs over Hyde, he does so only though an evil act. Both suicide and murder were considered sins in Stevenson’s day. Jekyll could be accused of having engaged in both. Furthermore, Stevenson leaves open the possibility that Hyde may live on despite Jekyll’s death – as Jekyll writes that is own life is ending, but that he does not know what Hyde will do.
Conclusion
Evil wins in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, because the protagonist fails to overcome his demons. He lacks the moral courage to resist temptation and he is never honest enough to accept responsibility for the damage he has done to others. It wins because even when it is destructive, the protagonist finds it seductive. It wins, because while some men may be perfectly evil, none of them are perfectly good. It wins, perhaps, because Jekyll himself was never really inclined to be a good person, rather, he forced himself to operate within the stiff confines of morality, while always desiring the freedom to engage in pleasure in his heart.
- Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Sweden: Wisehouse Classics, 2015. Book.
