Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is, at its core, a novella about the dangers of duality and the evil that lies within us all. This duality is quite literal, as scientist Dr. Jekyll actually creates a potion that transforms him into the physical manifestation of his darker desires, Mr. Hyde, but also manages to be subtler in details such as setting. Based in London, Stevenson’s work moves from middle-class locations such as Leicester Square to the dirt and grime of Soho district to the upper-class mansions of Cavendish Square. Despite the differences in status and appearance of each location, their proximity and shared characteristics suggest that there is not so clear a line between them as the reader might initially think. |
** [Dr. Dawkins: note that in the text, Utterson is dreaming about Dr. Jekyll and not Dr. Lanyon.]
Stevenson’s focus on duality carries throughout the novel, from his characters to his settings. Through his juxtaposition of decay and veneer, he suggests that each individual has a Hyde within, and critiques the practice in London of masking that corruption. So long as it is in the people, it will continue to spread and grow, unchallenged; it is only through facing one’s demons head-on that it can ever be vanquished. |
“Guided Tour of Jekyll and Hyde’s London.” Youtube, uploaded by Mr Salles Teaches English, 30 Oct. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQxJWLx_8GM
Moore, Wendy. “John Hunter (1728-1793).” The James Lind Library, 2009, https://www.jameslindlibrary.org/articles/john-hunter-1728-93/
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Edited by Katherine Linehan, Norton, 2003.