Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
jekyll
noun
/ˈdʒɛkəl/
Definition
Jekyll is often used in reference to a dual nature or personality, stemming from the character Dr. Jekyll in the novella ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Examples
- Her behavior at the party was a real Jekyll and Hyde situation; she was charming one moment and then completely rude the next.
- We see a Jekyll-like transformation when he switches from a kind friend to a ruthless competitor.
- The character’s Jekyll aspect was hidden by his darker impulses, making him a complex figure.
Meaning
The term symbolizes the conflict of good and evil within an individual, representing the struggle between the two sides of one’s personality.
Synonyms
- Duality
- Split personality
- Contradiction
- Ambivalence
