Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Published: 1886
Genre: Gothic Horror / Psychological Thriller / Classic Fiction
Setting: Victorian London
⭐ Why It Matters
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a cornerstone of classic horror and Gothic literature, exploring the dual nature of humanity, repression, and the limits of science and morality. It’s a frequent GCSE and A-Level text, particularly on the AQA and Edexcel syllabuses, and continues to captivate readers with its eerie tone and moral ambiguity.
👥 Main Characters
- Dr Henry Jekyll – A respected doctor and scientist, fascinated by the duality of human nature.
- Mr Edward Hyde – Jekyll’s alter ego; cruel, violent, and unrepentantly evil.
- Mr Gabriel Utterson – A lawyer and Jekyll’s close friend, determined to uncover the truth.
- Dr Hastie Lanyon – Jekyll’s former colleague, horrified by Jekyll’s experiments.
- Poole – Jekyll’s loyal but increasingly fearful butler.
📚 Plot Summary
🔹 A Mystery in the Fog
In gloomy Victorian London, lawyer Mr Utterson investigates a disturbing case: a violent, deformed man named Mr Hyde is connected to his respectable friend, Dr Jekyll, and has even been given access to Jekyll’s will.
Hyde commits acts of violence — including beating a child and murdering a well-known MP — but always disappears before he can be caught.
🔹 A Terrible Discovery
As Utterson digs deeper, he uncovers strange changes in Jekyll’s behaviour — withdrawal, secrecy, and signs of physical deterioration.
After Dr Lanyon dies of shock following an unexplained visit from Jekyll, Utterson realises something horrific is happening.
🔹 The Truth Revealed
In a final letter left by Jekyll, we learn the truth:
Jekyll created a chemical potion that allowed him to separate the good and evil within himself.
By drinking it, he transformed into Edward Hyde, allowing him to indulge in sinful pleasures without guilt.
But Hyde grows stronger, more uncontrollable — until Jekyll can no longer stop the transformations.
With no potion left and no way back, Jekyll dies, trapped forever in the body of Hyde.
🧠 Themes & Takeaways
- Duality of Human Nature – Good and evil exist within all of us. Jekyll’s downfall comes from trying to split them completely.
- Victorian Morality & Repression – The story critiques societal expectations of propriety and the hidden vices beneath respectability.
- Science vs Morality – Jekyll’s experiments mirror the dangers of unchecked ambition and the ethical limits of science.
- Addiction & Control – The transformations become harder to resist, suggesting themes of addiction and self-destruction.
- The Uncanny & the Monstrous – Hyde is both “other” and intimately familiar — a part of Jekyll, and by extension, all of us.
