The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Response by Thomas Luminoso

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde provides a unique and original story that is centered on the character of Mr. Hyde. His character is an extremely violent but secluded individual. In the end of the book Dr. Jekyll describes himself as having more than the fathers interest, while Mr. Hyde had more of the “son’s indifference” (40, Stevenson). This to me displays not only the differences between the two characters and the role they play in the development of the two, but also the differentiating moral standards. The two chiropractors can be seen as two extremes of human natures way of looking at morals. Stevenson see’s the human moral code as two separate kinds, there is the evil and there is the good. This can also be seen as the moral code that we choose to show to the public and the one that we all have within ourselves. We are in a constant battle of fighting our, “inner Hyde”.

The way in which I saw Dr.Jekyl develop was through tow moral codes. One of which was the perception that Dr.Jekyl was a character that had a strong moral code that mostly resembles Utilitarianism. The reason for this assumption was that he was trying to protect Mr.Hyde from the law because he knew something about him that made him redeeming. Dr. Jekyl would often times make excuses for Mr.Hyde and eventually says that he would not do anything else to anyone. If that were true then he would be looking out for the well being of Mr.Hyde, while also having the assumption that he would prevent anything else from happening to the people of London. However, the violence continues through Mr.Hyde’s character. This is then the point in the story that I started to question the moral code of Dr.Jekyll, especially in his disappearance at the end of the story.

Once reaching the conclusion of the story where we finally find out that Dr.Jekyl and Mr.Hyde are in fact the same person, my perception of their moral code changes in a way that is more self-indulging. You realize that his protection of the character was  just a protection of his secret. For this reason his moral code moves more towards an ethical egoist moral code. Even though Dr.Jekyl was fully aware of what he had become and that he was being taken over by the darker side of his own psyche. He was more worried about the condition of his own life then the fact that he had become a danger to the people around him. Even the will which he had written out that gave all of his assets to Mr.Hyde in the case of his death was self oriented in the way that he was making sure that he was preserving his wealth even if it meant that his violent alternate personality was the one that received it.

As the pieces fell into place it became clear as to what Dr.Jekyl’s moral standards really were. Even though his self can be separated into an evil and good version of himself, Each character shared the selfishness of their actions and their lack of consideration of everyone elses safety. For this reason, his more code was consistent in being ethical egoism.