James SchlemmerAP Language and Composition - Period 4Mrs. ManzellaJekyll and Hyde EssayMarch 23, 2015The duality of human nature has been studied many times throughout history. Humanitys inner conflict between good and evil prevails in Victorian culture along with American culture today. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson examines this duality of human nature and the tension it causes within oneself. Duality can cause tension in ones life and tension in ones life can cause duality. Attempting to hide the evil, human nature causes the development of a Mr. Hyde-type character trait to appear. Difficulties in life between the dual personalities causes the duality to swell into a larger problem. Hiding duality from oneself will result in the evil aspect of it to appear and create an issue. Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical and The Incredible Hulk are both examples of the development of a Mr. Hyde-type character. The novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was one of the first pieces of literature to examine duality in human nature. Dr. Jekyll causes Mr. Hyde to appear using drugs and the mixture of chemicals. Hyde soon becomes an addiction that needs to be fed. Through the use of salts, Jekyll can transform into Hyde and feed the addiction. The transformation quickly happens without the use of salts and without warning. Dr. Jekyll believes Hyde is not a problem at first. As the novella progresses, Jekylls opinion changes. In the chapter titled Henry Jekylls Full Statement of the Case, he explains the progression. Killing himself allowed Jekyll to escape the tension of the duality within himself. To escape the tension of the duality within him, Jekyll committed suicide in his laboratory. Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end, (p. 124). The duality caused a tension to develop straining Jekyll and empowering Hyde. Peacefully ending his life, Jekyll accepted the tension between the good and evil within. Jekyll overcame Victorian societys restraints and accepted the tension within and created happiness all through accepting his fate.Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical is loosely based off the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. The authors of the musical added elements such as love interests for Jekyll/Hyde and changing the mode of storytelling. The novella uses a murder mystery mode and barely uses Jekyll/Hyde as narrators. Musicals cannot simply present a story through retelling, therefore the writers decided to write in chronological order. Discovering what Jekyll and Hyde are is not the intention of the musical. The intention is wanting the audience to invest in Jekyll/Hydes personal life and love life enough to watch and enjoy the show. Emma, Jekylls fianc, is his love interest throughout the show. As the show progresses and the transformation occurs, Hyde falls in love with a woman named Lucy. The tension builds as his duality grows and the love for both blossoms. The love for both causes a tension in Jekyll/Hydes life that enables the duality within. Complexity in his life eventually leads to Hyde killing Lucy but also causes Jekyll to try ridding his life of the alter ego. The similarity between the two forms of Jekyll and Hyde is ending of life through suicide. The suicide allows for happiness, tranquility, peace otherwise unachieved. In the novella, the suicide occurs and then the reader discovers why. The audience views the development of Jekyll leading to the suicide throughout the whole musical. Each form achieves something different. The novella allows the reader to attempt to solve the riddle before being told the answer while the musical wants the audience to feel sympathy for Jekyll/Hyde at the end of the show. Both forms are effective in telling the story and examining duality in human nature and evaluating the effect on the individual along with people close to the individual.The Incredible Hulk is another example examining duality in human nature. Banner has duality. When angered, Banner turns into a giant, strong, green creature called the Hulk. Hulk is different from Banner yet they live inside each other. The more Banner tries to hide Hulk and prevent the transformations, the more they occur. Between all three sources, there is a direct relationship. Hiding one aspect of oneself to the unconscious mind results in the development of that aspect to that persons character. Banner successfully transforms in a controlled manner by not suppressing the urge to transform. The ending of The Incredible Hulk is different from the original novella. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ends with a suicide due to uncontrollability of his transformations while Hulk learns to accept and control what has been done. Although different endings, the theme of both is consistent. Accepting what has been done is the key to peace, tranquility, and happiness. The inner conflict of good and evil exists in all humans but how each person manages the conflict is what defines each. Attempting to suppress one or the other creates a stronger form of the behavior being banished wanting to be unleashed. When it is unleashed, the behavior is worse than would have been if one accepted and allowed the natural course to be taken. In each of the examples, the main characters inner conflict is extreme of what most humans face. The extremes are required for humans to learn and apply the theme to their own life. Accepting the inner conflict of humanitys sense of good and evil allows for tranquility and happiness within.