The Duality of Human Nature Men’s Roles Essay - 1752 Words

The Duality of Human Nature: Men’s Roles What truly defines a man? What roles should men hold in society? According to Victorian society, men should be respectful, successful and well known, which often restricted men from enjoying the pleasures of life and revealing their true self. Both Victorian writers, Robert Stevenson and Oscar Wilde, depict the roles of men in their works, while making a critique about the roles that are set by men in society. In the narrative, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Stevenson and the play The Importance of Being Earnest by Wilde, they explore the importance of duality as a matter of satiric exposition of whats wrong in Victorian society. Both writers aim at illustrating how the†¦show more content†¦The creation of two identities allowed Jekyll not to carry a public mask at all times to cover his own dispositions about life. The notion of the expectation of society and how it affects men is seen when Jekyll says in his statement of the case: Hence it came about t hat I concealed my pleasures, and that when I reached years of reflection, and began to look round me and take stock of my program and position in the world, I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life. (Stevenson, 2200). Here the reader is able to see how the idea that society restricts the identity and pleasure of men is being used as a critique in this narrative. This passage shows how a restrictive life leads to a life of concealment in which sooner or later one begins to be curious and explore a life of ones own, even if it’s by means of a secret identity. Just as Jekyll later states â€Å"man is not truly one (Stevenson, 2200). The reader could infer that perhaps Stevenson is suggesting that men is made up of double identities which creates a inner battle, when it comes to identity self and that human nature is made of two aspects that just one. Therefore, because of the restrictions to live one life as set by society leads people to hold their pleasures and not release them; as a result, a dual identity is created. In contrast, Wilde in his play The Importance of Being EarnestShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh Essay1721 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout in the Gilgamesh tale. This is clearly shown on tablet II, with the statement ‘an eternal name I will make for myself!’ (Foster, 2001, p. 20). Gilgamesh believed by dying during battle with Humbaba; guardian of the Cedar Forest from all human ravages; a he would be seen as heroic by his people. Moreover he would be forever identified as a worthy leader who died protecting his people, [and] wipe out [something evil from the land], (Foster, 2001, p. 18). 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