The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson Summary

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson follows lawyer Gabriel John Utterson investigating the sinister connection between his respected friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and the malevolent Edward Hyde. The novella reveals Jekyll's attempt to separate his good and evil natures through a scientific potion, ultimately transforming him into the purely evil Hyde, exploring the impossibility of separating good from evil within human nature.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, published in 1886. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850, Stevenson was a celebrated Scottish novelist, essayist, and poet also known for Treasure Island and Kidnapped. The premise for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came from a nightmare, showcasing Stevenson's ability to craft psychological horror that examines moral ambiguity and complex characterization.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde appeals to readers interested in psychological thrillers, Gothic horror, and philosophical explorations of morality. It's ideal for those fascinated by the duality of human nature, Victorian literature enthusiasts, and anyone seeking classic literature that examines internal conflict. Students studying literary themes of good versus evil, identity, and Victorian society will find Stevenson's novella particularly insightful and thought-provoking.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remains worth reading as a foundational work of psychological horror that set standards for complex characterization adopted by later writers. Stevenson's exploration of moral ambiguity and the impossibility of separating good from evil continues to resonate with modern readers. The novella's compact length, gripping mystery structure, and profound themes make it an accessible yet deeply meaningful classic that has influenced countless adaptations and cultural references.

The main theme of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the duality of human nature and the impossibility of separating good from evil. Stevenson explores how Dr. Jekyll, who is not wholly good but a mixture of both natures, becomes ruled by Hyde due to his own moral weakness. The novella examines repression, Victorian morality, and the dangerous consequences of attempting to compartmentalize our darker impulses rather than integrating them.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde features Gabriel John Utterson, a reserved lawyer investigating the mystery; Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respectable scientist conducting unorthodox experiments; Edward Hyde, Jekyll's evil alter ego described as dwarfish and deformed; Richard Enfield, Utterson's cousin who first witnesses Hyde's cruelty; Dr. Lanyon, Jekyll's former friend who dies from shock; and Poole, Jekyll's loyal butler who alerts Utterson to his master's strange behavior.

Mr. Hyde represents the pure manifestation of Dr. Jekyll's evil impulses and repressed desires in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Hyde embodies unchecked immorality, violence, and the darker aspects of human nature that Victorian society demanded be suppressed. His physical deformity and ugliness symbolize moral corruption, while his smaller stature suggests evil is a diminished, primitive part of humanity that grows stronger when indulged without conscience or social restraint.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores duality through Jekyll's scientific attempt to chemically separate his respectable, moral self from his base, immoral desires. Rather than achieving balance, Jekyll discovers that suppressing one's darker nature only strengthens it, as Hyde gradually dominates until Jekyll cannot control the transformation. Stevenson demonstrates that good and evil are inseparable aspects of human identity, and attempting to isolate them leads to self-destruction and moral collapse.

A nightmare inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The vivid dream provided the premise for the story, which Stevenson then developed into a profound exploration of moral ambiguity and psychological conflict. This origin reflects Stevenson's literary method of transforming imaginative visions into stories with deeper meaning, examining themes of identity, Victorian hypocrisy, and the human capacity for both goodness and evil within a single individual.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde employs powerful symbolism:

• the laboratory represents the boundary between Jekyll's public respectability and private experimentation
• the fog-shrouded, dark London streets symbolize moral ambiguity and hidden evil
• the door connecting Jekyll's respectable home to Hyde's laboratory entrance represents the threshold between civilization and barbarism
• the broken cane used to murder Sir Danvers Carew symbolizes the violent shattering of social order and moral authority

Critics of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde note that modern readers may find the ending predictable since the Jekyll-Hyde connection has become so culturally familiar, diminishing the original shock value. Some argue Stevenson's portrayal of evil as physically deformed reinforces problematic associations between appearance and morality. Additionally, the novella's Victorian moral framework and limited character development beyond Jekyll and Hyde may feel dated, though these elements reflect the story's specific historical and cultural context.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remains relevant in 2025 because its exploration of hidden identities, moral compromise, and internal conflict resonates with contemporary concerns about authenticity, online personas, and compartmentalized lives. The novella's examination of how respectable individuals justify unethical behavior speaks to modern discussions about corporate misconduct, public versus private morality, and the psychological toll of maintaining multiple identities, making Stevenson's 1886 work remarkably prescient for digital-age anxieties.