“My two natures had memory in common, but all other faculties were most unequally shared between them. Jekyll (who was composite) now with the most sensitive apprehensions, now with a greedy gusto, projected and shared in the pleasures and adventures of Hyde; but Hyde was indifferent to Jekyll, or but remembered him as the mountain bandit remembers the cavern in which he conceals himself from pursuit.” (p 48)
This passage, to me shows the intertwined important relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The author is talking about how he feels the pressure to choose between the two personalities, that in a way support the other. There is an internal and external struggle taking place; this in turn creates a lack of balance. The shapes and identities between the two are shown here fully in this passage. Hyde and Jekyll represent the mountain bandit and the cavern that protects and hides the true identity. He hides behind the cleaner persona, allowing only one side to be shown at a time. I really enjoyed this passage because it relates to the larger picture of the novel pertaining to how we as humans are always concealing one side of ourselves. It relates back to the class’s ideologies because in our image based world it is extremely difficult for some people to show their true selves. The language shows the hidden message behind the passage by using words such as unequally, sensitive, and indifferent; these are all ways we can use to describe someone. Perhaps we do not view them as equals, maybe we think they are sensitive, or we are completely indifferent to them all together. In this scenario Hyde is indifferent to Jekyll and does not view him on the same level. Many people do this everyday to the other and sometimes solely based on sexual orientation. This makes people hide or conceal aspects of themselves that society does not deem normal.