Duality Of Human Nature

The duality of human nature has been discussed in literature and portrayed in the media in various different ways. Individuals are stereotypically shown in the midst of a struggle between right and wrong, between good and evil. Why do we all experience potentially damaging urges and impulses? Are we hopelessly divided against ourselves, or can we have control over our dark urges? I believe that, while we may be plagued with the potential for evil, we can not control our dark urges in and of ourselves. A certain level of control can be exerted through willpower and self preservation, but an objective truth must be present in order to truly motivate people to do the right thing. This control over ourselves looks different in everyone, and
For Dexter, Harry’s code serves as his conscience. He is able to control his evil side by maintaining appearances, forging relationships, and most importantly, keeping his killing under control. Dexter only murders those who have slipped through the judicial system, and thus their punishment for their crimes. Dexter even admits that he gives in to his darkest desires, which makes him in all regards, a monster. Dexter says, “People think it's fun to pretend you’re a monster. Me, I spend my life pretending I'm not” (Greenberg). The first season of Dexter highlights how Dexter is beginning to feel real emotions, rather than simply fabricated ones. However, I believe that most, if not all, of Dexter’s actions stem from this subjective truth that he has created for himself. The code became his truth. He helped create it, he followed it religiously, and he was greatly affected when it was broken. The code became his gauge of what is right and what is wrong. He created his own system for judging his actions. In his own mind, Dexter is in control of his emotions. However, without an objective truth to set up what is right and what is wrong, there is no sense of morality. I believe that Dexter lost whatever morality he had when he witnessed his mother’s murder, which led him to be driven by his dark urges, and consoled by his
Some people do not express these feelings in as extreme ways as Dexter Morgan, but others do, such as Dr. Jekyll. Dr. Jekyll had dark urges, and he wanted nothing more than to express them, but he would ruin his reputation in doing so. In order to get away with whatever he wished, he created a potion that would transform him from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. However, contrary to popular belief, these two characters are actually one. All of Hyde’s urges and actions are coming from Jekyll. The only thing separating these two entities is their outward appearance; they are the same in all other regards. This allowed Dr. Jekyll to have his own form of control over his urges. He was able to take the potion when he wished, transform into his version of his shadow self, and do anything and everything he desired. However, this story has a crucial message that many people miss. While Dr. Jekyll initially had complete control over Mr. Hyde, it slowly began slipping away. Dr. Jekyll realized this as well, and he stated, “... I began to spy a danger that, if this were much prolonged, the balance between my nature might be permanently overthrown, the power of voluntary change forfeited, and the character of Edward Hyde become irrevocably mine” (Stevenson, 69). The message that Stevenson is trying to relay is that our dark urges