Author's Note: In the story Jekyll and Hyde, the two characters oddly enough are exact opposites, which made me wonder why they were complete character foils of each other. I wrote about the differences between the two, and how rather than canceling the other out, they complimented each other. Both needed the other in some weird way to survive. I thought it was either they both die, or they both live. One cannot kill the other, and this is why.
Some say opposites attract, because one factor needs the other to make up for the qualites they lack. In a math equation, +X and -X cancel eachother out; contradicting, in this case the two emphasise eachother. Comparing two completely different people causes concentration on the obvious reverse characteristics. Because Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are exact opposites, they compliment one another rather than contradict the other out.
Resembling an angel upon one shoulder and a devil on the other, both Jekyll and Hyde demonstrate mysteriously extreme opposite qualities that embellish their identities. Hyde's entire world is disturbing and cruel, proving therefore his connection with the devil. Stevenson writes, "Mr. Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation, he had a displeasing smile.."(52). His lack of height, attractiveness, personality, and liveliness label him a monster. In a complete different direction, Jekyll appears as a bright and sincere man. He was described as "a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty with something of a slyish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness- you could see by this looks that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection"(56). Relating to an angel, Dr. Jekyll is an exact character foil of Mr. Hyde. Creating a dual bond, the two's opposite qualities compliment the other. This isn't just a coincidence, it's simply because opposites attract.
1 comment:
This piece is short and direct, yet leaves the reader thinking. Your opening sentence had a poetic ring to it because "attract" and "lack" almost rhyme--I don't know if that was intentional, but I like it! The point you made with +X and -X kind of contradicted your next paragraph; maybe you should use the scientific example of opposites (a negative is attracted to a positive in magnetism) or the English language (two negatives in a sentence make a positive, therefore opposites attract). Also, the final sentence could be made stronger if you changed the comma to a semicolon. But other than that, this is a well written response.
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