Readings in Humanities
28 January 2012
The Stranger Within Ever wondered why a close friend or relative behaves a certain way around one person and then seemingly transforms into a whole new person when surrounded by other people? The belief that everyone has multiple personalities is one that is very common and can be seen amongst almost all in society. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Louis Stevenson, the idea of dual personalities is taken beyond the normal circumstances, as the main character frequently morphs into an entire new persona. This new persona commits violent acts and often finds himself in a great deal of trouble. Although, in reality, extreme cases like the one presented in this novella are rarely heard of, the truth still lays in the fact that not everyone is whom he or she appears to be.
When initially inquiring about secondary personalities, it makes the most sense to begin with how these second selves come about. The answer is quite simple in that everyone is born with many different “layers” to their personality, many of which either never show up or appear later in life. For that reason, the way in which one thinks or functions is not always discernable. This entire concept plays a large role in why each and every person on this Earth is so incredibly distinct in his or her own way.
Having a dual personality is one side of the issue; the other is how one utilizes it. Life can become quite dull at times and this can often trigger one to consider a personality change. Hence, in order to escape reality, the majority of people tend to employ diverse personalities. By doing so, one can add some much needed excitement to his or her otherwise uninteresting life and still have the option to revert back. For example, in the movie Daddy Day Care, a boy at a day camp named Tony decides one day that he is tired of