I am more than one person...?!

I absolutely LOVE DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.  It really is one of the best stories from classic literature.  OK.  So I say that with just about every book I read, but it really is true.  I love studying about the dual nature of "man."  (And Woman!)  I do believe that we all have that side of us that Poe says is a "spirit of perverseness" (from "The Black Cat") where we take an odd pleasure in "evil" or "wrong" that we do or that others experience.  For the most part, your average human is a GOOD person who knows right from and CHOOSES to do right--most of the time.  It is when we give in to that other side of our selves, that "spirit of perverseness," that can get us into trouble--at least if/when we give in over and over--on a consistent basis.

I, for one, don't believe that one wrong makes a person evil.  Even some murderers (considering that murder is often treated as THE WORST evil possible) aren't necessarily evil to the core just because they've committed a murder.  Sometime murder is an act of passion in a MOMENT we weakness where the person simply loses control.  Does that mean that those murderers shouldn't be punished or have consequences for their actions?  Absolutely not.  But we can't label them ALL as "evil" just because of one act of violence.

I know that I myself have had at least one moment of extreme rage where I could have easily committed murder if I had given in to my baser instincts--that true "spirit of perverseness."  In the moment, it felt good to get the emotions out of me that had been building up over an extended period of time, but at the same time, it felt more awful than I can explain simply because I was so completely out of control.  I honestly was afraid not just for the person I was screaming at, but for myself because I was so very angry.  I could have hurt myself, too.

It's always so fascinating to me to talk about all the modern-day stories that have as their theme the duality of man.  We had some great discussions in each of my classes today where everyone presented some great examples, some of which I've never even thought of!  One of my favorites was Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader!  I'd love to hear other examples that you can come up with....!!!!