What does Mr. Hyde represent in Robert Louis Stevenson’s story?

In Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Mr. Hyde represents the evil, barely human alter ego of Dr. Jekyll. The names of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have become synonymous with the display of contradictory behaviors, particularly between one's private and public personas.123

Mr. Hyde is depicted as a small figure, possibly suggesting that evil is a minor component of Jekyll's personality, yet it manifests in forceful and violent ways. The story is often interpreted as a representation of the Victorian era's divided self, where outward gentility concealed inner desires. The character of Hyde also became relevant following the Jack the Ripper murders, as Stevenson's exploration of psychological duality was invoked to explain a new form of urban savagery.3