Black Swan vs. Jekyll and Hyde
The concept of duality is seen in various novels and works of art. Humans are considered to have different sides and personalities. Many people do not realize there multiple thoughts can not only have an effect on them but others as well. In Victorian times, the concept of duality was explored in the novel ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ by Robert Stevenson. In present-day United States this idea is seen in the film “Black Swan” directed by Darren Aronofsky. A major theme in Stevenson’s piece, ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” was the duality of human nature. Dr. Jekyll states that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as a battleground. Jekyll feels a sense of freshness and joy and power when disguised as Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll began to live a reckless life as Mr. Hyde making it difficult for him to escape his other personality (Miyoshi.) In various cultural myths, Mr. Hyde is considered a “Demonic man.” Jekyll is seen as an intelligent and dark character. Stevenson used imagery to help the reader have a better understanding of how ugly of a character Dr. Jekyll became in his Hyde phase (Doane.) Concepts of science, the laws of thermodynamics and force are seen in the text according to some analysts (McCracken-Flesher.) In the story itself Jekyll states “My two natures had memory in common, but all other facilities were most unequally shared between them” showing he cannot control both personalities. A reoccurring motif in the text was the depiction of Hyde’s evil and violent behavior. In the text Dr. Jekyll creates a potion that resulted in pure evil rather than good. Evidence supporting Dr. Jekyll understood he was being taken over was seen in his statement: Enough then, that I not only recognized my natural body from the mere aura and effulgence of certain of the powers that made up my spirit, but managed to compound a drug by which these powers should be dethroned from their supremacy, and a second form and