Summary
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the most famous and enduring works of Victorian literature. First published in 1886, this gothic novella tells the story of the respectable Dr. Jekyll, who creates a potion that transforms him into the evil Mr. Hyde. Stevenson's tale explores themes of good and evil, repression, and the duality of human nature that continue to resonate with readers. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was an immediate commercial and critical success, selling over 40,000 copies in the first six months after its release, and has since become one of Stevenson's best-known works. The character of Jekyll and Hyde has become culturally iconic, with the phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” entering common usage to describe someone with a dual personality or hidden dark side.
The novella's impact extended beyond literature into popular culture and theater. In 1887, actor Richard Mansfield adapted the story for the stage, premiering his version in Boston to great acclaim. The play's special effects for Jekyll's transformation into Hyde horrified and thrilled audiences. However, the production faced an unexpected setback in London in 1888, when hysteria surrounding the Jack the Ripper murders led to Mansfield being considered a suspect, forcing him to shut down the play. Despite this, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde continued to captivate readers and has since inspired over 120 stage and film adaptations, cementing its place as a seminal work in Gothic literature.
Plot
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde opens when Gabriel John Utterson, a London lawyer, learns of a mysterious and violent man named Edward Hyde, who has connections to his friend Dr. Henry Jekyll. Utterson becomes perplexed and concerned when he discovers that Dr. Jekyll has named Mr. Hyde as the sole beneficiary in his will. Despite Jekyll's assurances that everything is fine, Utterson remains suspicious of Hyde.
A year later, Hyde brutally murders Sir Danvers Carew, a prominent member of Parliament. Jekyll appears shaken by this event and swears he has ended all association with Hyde. For a few months, Jekyll returns to his friendly, sociable self. However, he soon becomes reclusive again, refusing all visitors. Dr. Hastie Lanyon, another friend of Jekyll and Utterson, dies of shock after receiving information related to Dr. Jekyll.
Utterson and Jekyll's butler eventually break into Jekyll's laboratory, where they find Hyde's body wearing Jekyll's clothes. They also discover letters from both Lanyon and Jekyll explaining the situation. Jekyll's letter reveals that he had developed a serum to separate the good and evil aspects of his personality. Taking the serum transformed him into Hyde, allowing him to indulge his vices without consequence to his reputation.
Initially, Dr. Jekyll could control the transformations, but eventually he began changing into Hyde involuntarily. Unable to find the ingredients to make more of the original effective serum, Jekyll realized he would soon be trapped permanently as Hyde. The letter ends with Jekyll's consciousness fading as Hyde takes over completely.
Themes
Duality of human nature
Good versus evil
Effects of repression
Science and its ethical limits
Victorian social expectations and hypocrisy
Identity and transformation
Friendship and loyalty
Setting
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde takes place in late Victorian-era London, specifically in the 1880s. This was a time of great scientific and technological progress but also of stark social contrasts between the wealthy and the poor. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a city grappling with rapid industrialization, overcrowding, and rampant poverty existing alongside areas of extreme wealth and refinement.
Much of the action occurs in the affluent neighborhoods of London, particularly the fictional upscale district where Dr. Jekyll's respectable townhouse is located. The story also ventures into seedier parts of the city, particularly Soho, where Mr. Hyde's residence can be found. This contrast between the genteel and squalid areas of London not only mirrors the dual nature of Jekyll/Hyde but also highlights the social divisions of the era.
Key locations in the story include Dr. Jekyll's home and laboratory, Mr. Hyde's dingy lodgings, the street where Sir Danvers Carew is murdered, and the offices and residences of Gabriel Utterson and Dr. Lanyon. The foggy, gas-lit streets of London serve as an atmospheric backdrop, shrouding the city in mystery and providing cover for Hyde's nefarious activities. This gloomy urban setting contributes significantly to the ominous mood and sense of duality that permeates the novella.
Characters
Dr. Henry Jekyll: The protagonist. A respected London doctor, Dr. Jekyll is a conflicted man, struggling with the duality of his nature—his public face of respectability and his private indulgence in unnamed vices. He develops a potion to separate these aspects of his personality, transforming into the evil Mr. Hyde. As the story progresses, Jekyll loses control over his transformations and descends into madness.
Mr. Edward Hyde: The evil alter ego of Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Hyde is described as ugly and deformed, representing the baser instincts of Jekyll's nature. He is cruel, violent, and completely amoral, committing terrible acts without remorse. As the story unfolds, Hyde grows stronger while Jekyll weakens, eventually taking over completely.
Gabriel John Utterson: A lawyer and the narrator of much of the story. Utterson is a loyal friend to Jekyll and becomes increasingly concerned about his association with Hyde. He investigates the mystery surrounding Jekyll and Hyde, ultimately discovering the shocking truth. Utterson is rational, reserved, and represents the proper Victorian gentleman.
Dr. Hastie Lanyon: A former colleague of Jekyll who disagrees with his scientific theories. Lanyon witnesses Hyde's transformation back into Jekyll, which shocks him so severely that he falls ill and dies. His written account provides crucial information about Jekyll's experiments.
Richard Enfield: Utterson's cousin who first encounters Hyde after witnessing him trample a young girl. Enfield's story piques Utterson's curiosity about Hyde and sets the investigation in motion.
Mr. Poole: Jekyll's loyal butler, who becomes increasingly worried about his master's behavior. He eventually seeks Utterson's help, leading to the final confrontation at Jekyll's laboratory.
Sir Danvers Carew: A respected Member of Parliament who is brutally murdered by Hyde. His death intensifies the hunt for Hyde and increases Jekyll's desperation.
Quick facts
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the first draft of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in just three days while bedridden and feverish.
Upon reading the first draft, Stevenson's wife Fanny criticized it as being too allegorical. Stevenson then burned the manuscript and rewrote the entire story in less than six days.
Stevenson claimed the idea for the story came to him in a dream.
The character name “Jekyll” was likely inspired by Stevenson's friend, Reverend Walter Jekyll.
Some scholars argue the novella is an allegory for repressed homosexuality in Victorian society.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was initially published as a “shilling shocker”—a cheap paperback sold for one shilling.
The novella was an immediate success, selling over 40,000 copies within the first six months of publication.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has inspired more than 120 stage and screen adaptations.
The first stage adaptation premiered in 1887, just a year after the novella's publication.
The 1931 film version won Fredric March an Academy Award for his portrayal of the dual title role.
Jekyll & Hyde, a musical based on Stevenson’s novella, premiered on Broadway in 1990.
The phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” has entered popular vernacular to describe someone with a split personality.
About the Author
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a renowned Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer. Blending elements of Romanticism with realism, his works often featured moral ambiguity and explored the duality of human nature. He is best known for his adventure novels Treasure Island and Kidnapped, as well as the gothic novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In addition, his collection of poetry for children, A Child's Garden of Verses, remains popular to this day.
Born in Edinburgh, Stevenson struggled with health issues throughout his life. Though he studied law at the University of Edinburgh, he chose to pursue a career as a writer. He traveled extensively and drew inspiration from his journeys, penning travelogues like Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. In 1880, he married American divorcée Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne and the couple eventually settled in Samoa, where Stevenson spent the final years of his life.
Beyond his writing, Stevenson was known for his charisma and wit. He formed friendships with many prominent literary figures of his day, including Henry James and G.K. Chesterton. Though he died at just 44 years old, Stevenson left behind a substantial body of work that continues to be widely read and adapted.
