The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

In Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the movie Fight Club there are two characters that reveal the two sides that every human has. There is a "good side" and there is a "bad side." In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll, who believes humans are born with two sides, creates a chemical to separate his "bad side," Mr. Hyde, from his "good side." In Fight Club the narrator, Edward Norton's character, developed a psychological disease, which inadvertently forced out his "bad side," Tyler Durden. Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden not only have many physical and mental differences, but there also exists many definite similarities as well. Although they both come about from different reasons they share extremely close qualities also and to the point where they almost reflect each other. They both have one common goal and that is to satisfy themselves and no one else.

Where differences are concerned Tyler Durden is good looking and virile whereas Mr. Hyde is hideous and like Satan. Also, Tyler Durden was unknowingly brought about by Jack's psychological disease and it was a chemical that Dr. Jekyll took which brought forth Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll created the chemical in order to separate himself, the "good side," from Mr. Hyde, the "bad side." Tyler Durden was part of Edward Norton's character; he was in his subconscious while Mr. Hyde was conscious.

As far as similarities go both Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden have no conscience. They do not think about anyone other than themselves. They do consider the consequences of their actions and act only to satisfy them. In Fight Club Tyler Durden states, "It's not until you lose everything that you are free to do anything" (Fight Club). Both Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden have nothing to lose. They can do anything that they want. They feel joy when hurting others and damaging houses. It is like a game that they must win. They tear through society without a care in the world not thinking to consider anyone's feelings but their own. Fear is not an object to either Mr. Hyde or Tyler Durden. It is as if they are young children who believe that they are invincible; they do not yet know how society expects them to act.

Also, both Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden hurt people and damage houses. In Fight Club Tyler Durden states, "Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing" (Fight Club). They are not hurting themselves so it make no difference to them what the consequences are because they will not face them like a typical human in society would. They will flee when the consequences hit and everyone but them will suffer. They feel that they are the center of the universe and may do whatever they please as long as it brings some sort of pleasure to them. As many young children, they do not know how to be "good" or respectful of others and their society around them.

In addition, Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden were both killed. Mr. Hyde killed himself after Dr. Jekyll lost control of him. He committed suicide in order to save himself so he would not have to face the consequences of his actions. Tyler Durden, on the other hand, was murdered. Edward Norton's character killed him to attempt to stop the damage to society that he created. Once Mr. Hyde committed suicide he was not able to damage society any longer. Good prevailed and society was no longer in danger of the evil Mr. Hyde. However, even though Edward Norton's character murdered Tyler Durden his legacy continued to live on without him. Society was still in danger even after the existence of Tyler Durden. Buildings still exploded and people were still in danger even though Tyler was not around to cause it. Tyler Durden planned for buildings to blow up even after he was gone. As determined, as Edward Norton's character was Tyler Durden, the "bad side" still prevailed.

Furthermore, Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden both come out of suppression. They are not coming out of good situations. Mr. Hyde came about by Dr. Jekyll wanting to separate from him. He wanted to take his "bad side" and put it into something else so he could be "good" and pure. Dr. Jekyll wanted to keep only his "good side," but his plan backfired on him. Mr. Hyde became his "bad side" as he wanted, however, Dr. Jekyll was not only "good" and pure, but he still possessed his "bad side" as well. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dr. Jekyll states, "With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two" (43). Dr. Jekyll realizes that all humans have to faces to them. It is impossible to fully be rid of the "bad side" of any human; the "good side" can only attempt to cover it up.

Also, Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden are the people that Dr. Jekyll and Edward Norton's character not only are suppressing but also want to be. In Fight Club Tyler Durden tells Edward Norton's character, "All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not" (Fight Club). However, both Dr. Jekyll and Edward Norton's character know that they cannot possibly act as Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden because they know that it is not acceptable in society.

Mr. Hyde and Tyler Durden are so alike that they almost completely reflect themselves. They are both suppressed "bad sides." They are nothing but bad news. They do what they want, when they want, however they may want and nothing is going to stand in their way. They are not afraid to hurt anyone or damage anything as long as they reach their goal. Their way goes and if you do not like it then get out of their way. They may look physically different and have mental differences as well, but they are tremendously similar in their ways.