Final answer:
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde represent the duality of human nature, with Jekyll appearing as a symbol of Victorian respectability and Hyde exemplifying evil and disdain. This theme of inner conflict and societal critique is prevalent in literature of that period, aiming to reveal the hidden monstrous traits beneath a veneer of respectability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character descriptions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde indeed reflect the duality that Robert Louis Stevenson aimed to portray in his novella, 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'. Dr. Jekyll embodies respectability and Victorian ideals of wealth and comfort, which starkly contrasts with the abhorrent Mr. Hyde, who is characterized by disdain and deformity. This contrast is not just physical but also metaphorical, serving as an exploration of the struggle between good and evil within human nature and the critique of Victorian hypocrisy as seen in literature of that era. Similar themes are echoed in other texts as well, such as the elegant decay of Roderick Usher matching the dilapidated grandeur of his home in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher', or the satirical portrayal of the rich in F. Scott Fitzgerald's work, highlighting the gulf between the material wealth and moral poverty of the upper classes.