Question

Robert Louis Stevenson's popular Victorian novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells the story of a man with two distinct personalities. Known to the world as a kind and highly respected doctor, at night he transforms into a monstrous person.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Rick's personality is very Jekyll and Hyde," Martina told her brother.

Answer 1

The allusion to "Jekyll and Hyde" in Martina's statement suggests that Rick has two very different sides to his personality, similar to the character of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Stevenson’s novella. Dr. Jekyll represents the respectable and kind aspects, while Mr. Hyde embodies the darker, more monstrous traits. Therefore, when Martina says Rick's personality is "very Jekyll and Hyde," she likely means that he can display two contrasting behaviors or moods, possibly being pleasant and amiable at times, but then switching to a more aggressive, erratic, or unkind demeanor at other times.