What themes of human behavior appear in The Master of Ballantrae?

In The Master of Ballantrae, Robert Louis Stevenson explores the theme of moral ambiguity, a subject he famously examined in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.12

The narrative centers on the stark contrast between two brothers: the elder, Ballantrae, who is depicted as bold and unscrupulous, and the younger, Henry, who is characterized as plodding, honest, and good-natured. Their relationship is defined by deep-seated conflict, as the elder brother returns from the 1745 rebellion to find Henry in control of the family estate and married to his former love. This leads to a persistent, destructive persecution of the younger brother that spans from Scotland to America.1

Ultimately, the novel serves as a complex presentation of human behavior, focusing on the intricate and often dark motivations that drive individuals when faced with rivalry and moral compromise.123