The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Blurb:

The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Library Edition) is Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic novella exploring the duality of human nature. In this classic tale, Dr. Henry Jekyll, a well-respected doctor, creates a potion that transforms him into the evil and immoral Mr. Hyde, allowing him to indulge his darkest desires without facing the consequences. Through vivid descriptions and psychological depth, Stevenson delves into the conflict between good and evil within the human soul. This edition offers a timeless exploration of identity, morality, and the complexity of human nature, making it a must-read for fans of gothic fiction and classic literature.

Review:

My first encounter with Jekyll & Hyde was in that short film, Hyde and Go Tweet, featuring the adorable Sylvester and Tweety. Then came the Tom & Jerry episode, before I watched The League of Extraordinary Gentleman film. The literary impact of Jekyll & Hyde is undeniably vast. Hell, even Dr Bruce Banner/Hulk is a kind of modern superhero take on the classic novella. 

But, does the novella still hold in modern times? Read and find out! 

SPOILERS AHEAD!

What I liked:

The way the narrative unfolds was brilliantly mysterious. If I had read this in 1886, I would have been flummoxed. Knowing the twist in the end did dampen the shock value, but that’s not to say the novella was in any way a disappointment. 

Like a true mystery, we follow a legal practitioner John Utterson, who is investigating the strange Mr Hyde. Not only has Utterson’s close friend and confidante, Dr Jekyll, named Mr Hyde as the sole inheritor of his entire estate in case of his mysterious disappearance, the will itself feels oddly written under duress. What’s more, this Mr Hyde has been spotted across London, linked to various violent crimes including murder. 

To be fair, the horror and sci-fi elements don’t really come into play except in the very last chapter. For the most part, this is a mystery thriller that, credit where due, paints quite a picture of speculated horror behind the closed doors of Dr Jekyll’s home. Despite the short length of the novella, it manages to create quite the tense atmosphere, building intrigue as the case reaches its climax with answers literally just a door and a letter away. 

And when the letters are opened, that’s where the real meat of the story comes to light. The philosophical pondering over the duality of man, over carnal urges and their civilized counterparts, and—in other interpretations—even the potential allegory of Hyde really being Jekyll’s homosexual/trans identity, all make for a beautifully enlightening read. It’s no wonder that this novella is such a classic. 

What I didn’t like:

I had two major problems with this novella: 1) the prose and 2) the characters.

The prose is era appropriate, so I will pardon this one. This is honestly a matter of personal taste, and I couldn’t really enjoy Stevenson’s writing the way I enjoy some of his contemporaries. 

But the characters… this is where I am in two minds (pun intended). I am aware that novellas like these were often used to explore ideas, leaving character and plot to become secondary. From that perspective, I guess it’s a pardonable offense. And yet, the characters themselves felt so one-dimensional, I just wasn’t able to fully immerse myself in the story. Which, when you factor in the prose, made for not the most enjoyable reading experiences of the year. 

I understand and acknowledge the impact of this novella. I stand by every bit of praise I have mentioned in the previous section. But, I cannot look past the issues that I list here either.

Conclusion:

This classic horror novella tells an intriguing, unsettling story about the duality of the human condition. A thought-provoking read that'll stay with you.

TL;DR:

WHAT I LIKED: Narrative and plot progression, philosophical reflections

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Prose was quite dated, one-dimensional characters