strange case of dr jekyll and mr hyde essay

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

An essay on “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” can provide a literary analysis of the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. It can explore themes of duality, morality, and the consequences of unchecked desires, examining the characters and the exploration of the dark aspects of human nature, offering insights into the complexities of human identity and ethics. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Loyal Personality of Gabriel Utterson in the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Within Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde novella, Mr. Gabriel Utterson demonstrates loyal conduct. To this end, Mr. Utterson abides by the instructions he receives from Dr. Hastie Lanyon. In addition, Mr. Utterson follows up on the murder of a major client and thus indentifies not only the murderer and the murder weapon, but also locates the corpse. This essay highlights Mr. Utterson by examining the following aspects: Mr. Utterson abides by the instructions he […]

The Film Adaptation of the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Hartswood Films produced the British television series, Jekyll, in July of 2007. Although formally titled an adaptation of the famous literary novella, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", this five-episode series is often described by its creators as a sequel to the novelette. Actively using Robert Louis Stevenson's tale in the series serves as a backstory to the main character, a modern-day Dr. Jekyll, and of course, Mr. Hyde. Adaptation in literature is literally defined as the […]

The Duality of Human Nature in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" first published in 1886 digs deep into the split personality that lurks within every person. This story isn’t just about good versus bad—it’s a deep dive into the human mind and how we all wrestle with our inner demons. Dr. Henry Jekyll a well-respected scientist becomes the sinister Mr. Edward Hyde thanks to a potion he brews up. This transformation isn’t just about physical change; it’s about the struggle […]

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The Enigma of Dr. Jules Kingsley: Shadows of Duality – the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In the labyrinthine alleys of Victorian London, amidst the eerie mist and the flickering gas lamps, unfolds a narrative of chilling intrigue - the peculiar chronicle of Dr. Jules Kingsley and Mr. Horace Blackwood. Crafted by the quill of Robert Louis Stevenson, this literary gem plunges deep into the abyss of the human psyche, unraveling the enigma of duality and the haunting shadows that lurk within. Central to the tale is the enigmatic figure of Dr. Jules Kingsley, a revered […]

Morality and Identity in the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the thematic interplay of morality and identity unfolds in a captivating narrative that probes the depths of human nature and societal norms. Through the enigmatic characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson crafts a tale that challenges conventional notions of good and evil, weaving a web of intrigue that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Central to the novella is the exploration of the dual […]

Duality’s Dance: the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In the labyrinthine alleys of Victorian London, where the fog swirls like whispers of forgotten secrets, unfolds a tale as haunting as the echo of footfalls on cobblestone streets – "The Curious Conundrum of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Crafted with the finesse of a maestro wielding his baton, Robert Louis Stevenson's novella delves deep into the recesses of the human psyche, where light and shadow dance an eternal waltz. At its core stands the enigmatic figure of Dr. Henry […]

The Duality Within:Jekyll and Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" emerges as a seminal exploration into the dichotomous essence inherent in humanity, adeptly portraying the conflict between the esteemed façade of Dr. Jekyll and the violent, primal essence of Mr. Hyde. This narrative plunges into the intricacies of human identity, morality, and the shadowy impulses lurking beneath the veneer of civilized society. Through Jekyll's metamorphosis into Hyde, Stevenson unveils a vivid portrayal of the strife between the loftier […]

Victorian Society in Jekyll and Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is not only a riveting narrative of psychological and supernatural intrigue but also a profound critique of Victorian society and its moral underpinnings. Through the dual characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson explores the repressive social norms and the often hypocritical morality of the era, illustrating the perilous consequences of suppressing one's darker impulses in the name of propriety and respectability. Victorian society was characterized by […]

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Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › British Literature › Analysis of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Analysis of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on October 7, 2022

Longman, Green, and Company published Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1886 as a “shilling shocker.” Stevenson reputedly developed the storyline from a dream he had about a man forced into a cabinet after ingesting a potion that would convert him into a brutal monster. The composition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde began in September 1885, and the final draft was submitted for publication later that same year. Unlike most 19th century literary works, Stevenson’s manuscript was released in book form instead of being serialized in a popular magazine. The publishers withheld its release until January 1886 because booksellers had already placed their Christmas stock. Within six months, Stevenson’s novella sold more than 40,000 copies in England and America.

strange case of dr jekyll and mr hyde essay

Dr. Jekyll (right) and Mr. Hyde, both as portrayed by Fredric March in Rouben Mamoulian’s film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931).

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde debates the conflict between good and evil and the correlation among bourgeois values, urban violence, and class structure. Dr. Jekyll is a seemingly placid character whose often-debated scientific research has nonetheless gained him respect amid his peers. The potion that Jekyll develops causes an unexplainable transformation into the violent Mr. Hyde. The Mr. Hyde alter-ego may represent an uncontrollable subconscious desire driven by anger and frustration toward an oppressive English class structure. Hyde’s numerous rampages include trampling a young girl and murdering the prominent English politician Sir Danvers. Although Jekyll prefers living the life of “the elderly and discontent doctor” (84), he cannot control his urge for “the liberty, the comparative youth, the light steps, leaping impulses, and secret pleasures” that the Hyde persona offers him. Dr. Jekyll’s desired liberty is perhaps caused by the restricted lifestyle that bourgeois cultural codes imposed on English society. Several Victorian social critics maintained that inner-city London dwellers were a debased life form living in junglelike conditions analogous to those in Africa. In 1890, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, claimed that England needed rescuing from its continually degenerating condition since its citizens were gradually turning into “[a] population trodden with drink, steeped in vice, [and] eaten up by every social and physical malady” (quoted in Stevenson, 183). Stevenson’s text describes how hidden desires have always existed in a seemingly perverted civilization.

Literary critics have stressed that Stevenson’s success in the “shilling shocker” market both helped and hindered his career. The rapid success of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde led Henry James to remark that Stevenson’s novella was at first too popular a work to be comfortably called a masterpiece. Henry James was not questioning Stevenson’s talent as a writer but rather was noting that the book’s quick popularity defined it as a story that was easily accessible to the mass public.

Playwright Richard Mansfield produced a stage version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1888. Shortly after Mansfield’s play opened, several East End London prostitutes were murdered by a serial killer nicknamed Jack the Ripper. English newspapers initially termed the slayer the “Whitechapel murderer” and “Leather Apron” before settling on “Jack the Ripper.” Reporters based their stories on the possible correlation between the killings and Mansfield’s theatrical representation of violence. Mansfield’s play was eventually closed because such parallels made it seem as though Jack the Ripper was mimicking the violence depicted in Mansfield’s play, marking the first time that the concept of Mr. Hyde was used in reference to sequential crime sprees. Reports from the Daily Telegraph further damaged the profits for Mansfield’s play by stating that “there is no taste for horror” (17) on the London stage. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remains a significant canonical text that uses its patchwork narrative to explore the conflation of reality and fictional representation that most postmodern writers still examine.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Caler, Jenni. The Robert Louis Stevenson Companion. Edinburgh: P. Harris, 1980. James, Henry. “Robert Louis Stevenson.” Reprinted in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, edited by Martin A. Danahay, 140–141. Orchard Park, N.Y.: Broadview Literary Texts, 1999. Rose, Brian A. Jekyll and Hyde Adapted: Dramatizations of Cultural Anxiety. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1996. Saposnik, Irving S. “The Anatomy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” In The Definitive Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Companion, edited by Harry M. Geduld, 108–117. New York: Garland Publishing, 1983. Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Edited by Martin A. Danahay, 29–91. Orchard Park, N.Y.: Broadview Literary Texts, 1999.