A Picture of Evil (or the Duality of Man)

Both The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and The Picture of Dorian Gray tell us about the very nature of being human; the struggle within all of us to keep the fragile balance between good and evil. However, both novels are on the one hand similar in the way they deal with a man’s weakness, his willingness to succumb to temptation and sully his own soul. But at the same time, they differ in the way the fallen protagonist is portrayed.

Wilde’s Dorian Gray is a complete, complex character, who is more or less, responsible for his own downfall. Lord Henry Wotton, may have influenced Dorian, and introduced him to a new way of thinking, and the novel that will become a blueprint for his own life; but it is Dorian’s decisions and actions alone that lead him astray. The Dorian who tries to resist, who tries to mend his ways, tries to better himself (even if this is for only a very short period of time) is the same Dorian that causes Sibyl Kane to commit suicide, who kills Basil Hallward and blackmails an old friend to dispose of the body. Within this character there is both good and evil. Dorian has the power, and the ability to choose his path, and he knowingly chooses to act in an immoral, debauched and heartless manner.

Whilst Dr Jekyll, although the same individual as Mr Hyde, seems to be two completely different beings. This is due to the change in name, change in appearance, and the complete change in attitude, actions and opinion. Dr Jekyll (or should that be Mr Hyde) is not a good man doing evil deeds, rather Dr Jekyll is a good man leading a good life, whilst Mr Hyde is an evil man leading an evil, immoral life. This character is not a complete character, within which lies both good and evil, rather he is one individual that has both a completely good and virtuous persona, and another completely evil persona. Dr Jekyll is not responsible for the actions of Mr Hyde, and Mr Hyde feels no obligation to Dr Jekyll.

The physical battle between good and evil may be more pronounced in The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde due to the fact that both men cannot exist at the same time. If Mr Hyde goes on a rampage, stealing, attacking and killing, this is only possible, because at that exact moment Dr Jekyll does not exist. Mr Hyde conquers and overpowers Dr Jekyll, until, in the end, Dr Jekyll ceases to exist. Only Mr Hyde, only the purely evil individual prevails.

The mental battle between good and evil is more pronounced in The Picture of Dorian Gray, precisely because the battle is waged within the one individual. Dorian does, at times, doubt the path he has taken, and regrets some of his most callous and heartless acts. Dorian shows that he is not completely evil, but loses the battle with his darker side. Evil prevails because Dorian allows it to prevail, believing that he will never face the consequences of his actions.

However, the end result in both novels are scarily similar good does not defeat evil. The individual, the human being dies, leaving a legacy of evil and suffering.