The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

By: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by: Jeffrey Ito

Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respected London physician, secretly creates a potion that allows him to separate his moral self from his darker impulses. When he drinks it, he transforms into Edward Hyde—a cruel, violent figure who embodies Jekyll’s repressed desires.

At first, Jekyll believes he can control this split existence, enjoying freedom from guilt while preserving his public reputation. But Hyde grows stronger and more independent, committing shocking crimes, including murder. Soon, Jekyll finds himself transforming into Hyde without taking the potion.

As Jekyll withdraws from society, his friends investigate the mystery surrounding Hyde and Jekyll’s sudden isolation. Through Jekyll’s final confession, the truth emerges: the experiment did not divide good from evil—it revealed that both always coexisted within him.

Unable to stop Hyde from fully overtaking his identity, Jekyll chooses death rather than surrender himself completely to his monstrous alter ego.

The novella explores duality, repression, and the danger of denying one’s inner nature, serving as a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition and the fragile boundary between civility and savagery.

©2026 Robert Louis Stevenson (P)2026 Robert Louis Stevenson