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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - R L Stevenson Reviews

Fantastic story that everyone has thought of.
Jul 23, 2021 05:06 PM 403 Views

I enjoyed reading this book. And it is not the story itself, which is awesome, but I liked the atmosphere of old London described there. It is that thing which makes the book out of the ordinary.


As for the story that everyone has thought of, I am not going to explain this because it will contain spoilers. However, I think that the most readers have already thought about the main idea and plot of the book.


Hyderabad India
The strange case of Dr.Jekll and Mr.Hyde
Aug 28, 2013 07:01 PM 2075 Views

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an interesting book. It was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1884.


Robert Louis Stevenson was born to a Scottish family in Edinburgh in 1850. He then went to Edinburgh academy and the University of Edinburgh. In the university, he was often bedridden. He then wrote his 1st great work, Treasure Island in 1883. He died in 1894 due to brain hemorrhage. He was writing another book, the Weir of Hermiston. He left it unfinished. It was destined to become another masterpiece.


The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is very interesting. First, Dr. Utterson, a close friend of Dr. Jekyll, was taking a stroll with his friend, Mr. Enfield. He passed a house. Mr. Enfield said that a very strange and evil man lived there. His name was Mr. Hyde. They spoke about him for a while, then left. Afterwards, he saw that Dr. Jekyll went into seclusion.


He looked at Dr.Jekkyl’s will, and, to his surprise, it said to give all his possessions to Mr. Hyde ! This intrigued Dr. Utterson quite a bit and he went on to find out more. He then realized that there was some connection between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.


Later, he unveils the horrifying tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I liked the suspense around the story but I dislike the slow uptake.


To conclude, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great book, but, it has a very slow uptake. Therefore, it is not for the impatient or restless.


Nowhere to 'Hyde'!
Mar 11, 2005 12:51 AM 7334 Views

The Wand of Science, in the hands of the unworthy, may prove to be more terrible to mankind than any natural calamity that it has ever faced.


How often have we heard the phrase - he is a''Jekyll and Hyde?'' This phrase conveys that the person we are discussing about is prone to extreme shifts in mood. I am sure there are many more similar phrases that have their root in Stevenson’s stunning work. Phrases those are synonymous with the Good' and 'Evil'.


Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde are two names that are as famous as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, or Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. These latter two names became world famous while appearing in a series of gripping stories. But, Stevenson brought into limelight the characters of Jekyll and Hyde with just one comparatively short story that shocked the readers of that time because of its bizarre plot, and grotesque ending - it still does!


It sparked off a lively debate, and the question that often cropped up was - whether the character of Mr. Hyde can exist in our real world? Before we deal with this question, I would like to mention that this book was written in the nineteenth century (1886, to be precise) when there was not much known about Multiple Personality Disorder, Split personality, or Alter ego which are a scientifically accepted fact in our day. Today, we talk about these things as if they are common place and hardly sensational.


But, how did Stevenson write in such depth about a split personality? The simple truth is that he did not know of it. One fateful day he awoke abruptly from his sleep having experienced a horrid nightmare. A nightmare that was as vivid as it was horrific. He was totally shaken but could recall it in great detail. Being the great writer that he was, he immediately decided to make this horrifying experience an unlikely plot for his next book.


This book from Stevenson appeared over a century ago, and I am inclined to believe most people know, at least, an outline of the story, if not the whole story. I presume, most would have read it as part of their school or college English syllabus.


THE STORYLINE:


Dr. Jekyll believes that the soul is made up of two separate distinctions: the good and the evil. He, also, believes that these two states of human character which are inseparably intermingled can be separated in their pure form, that is – ‘pure good’ and ‘pure evil’ without each having an influence over the other. He sets about in his quest to invent a drug that can separate the two basic elements.


He is confident that he can come up with a concoction in due course and is happy that the two states ''do not have to live in bondage to each other and in constant competition.'' So, after considerable time and effort, Jekyll invents a perfect potion to split the two states of the human character. He also comes up with an antidote to restore the two to the original amalgamated state.


''He prepared the potion and describes in bitter and horrific detail the painful transformation that occurs after taking the potion and transforming into Hyde. He postulates that the evil side of his nature was less developed, smaller, and younger than Henry Jekyll. Evil had left on that body an imprint of deformity and decay. But, Jekyll recalls, he was not repulsed because this too was his own self. Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind was pure evil. Shortly after becoming Hyde, he drinks a second potion and returns to being Henry Jekyll.”


Jekyll feels a sense of freedom he never experienced before. Glowing at his own achievement, Jekyll realizes there is a glorious chance to enjoy what he never allowed himself to do as a respectable citizen. He only had to drink a little potion and he could enjoy all that was prohibitive without a sense of remorse.


Jekyll decides to lead a dual life, the respectable doctor who is so well known in society and the nocturnal Mr. Hyde who is an unknown, shady character. The plan seems to be perfect. Jekyll even takes up separate quarters for one Mr. Hyde and employs a trusted servant to look after the quarters emphasizing the fact that Mr. Hyde is a very dear friend of his and must be taken care of even during his absence (which of course he would be if Hyde is present).


Jekyll begins to enjoy his new found freedom in his evil self, Hyde. Time passes by and Hyde's unbridled savagery takes the life of an innocent citizen, Dr. Carew. This was something Jekyll didn't expect. Now, he has a difficult job of protecting his dual self, Hyde.


As Jekyll begins to feel the heat, he decides to get rid of the shady character he had created. But, before he can plan the exit of Hyde for good, something happens which traps Jekyll in his own creation. ''I had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde.” This moment began to alert Jekyll that the character of Hyde might irrevocably stay; he might lose voluntary control over himself.


The point had come to choose: regretfully, he chose to give up the liberty and freedom of Hyde and for two months his decision stayed. However, this did not stay as he was tortured with Hyde's longing and in an “hour of moral weakness’, once again took the potion. On that night, the evil that was released was stronger than ever and Dr. Carew was murdered. Because of the manhunt for Hyde, Jekyll swore him off forever and set out to try to remedy the evil.


MY VIEW:


The story is largely allegorical, beginning brilliantly with an account of a hideous looking man trampling upon an innocent girl without provocation. Stevenson adopted a discursive style of story telling for most part and where necessary reverted to a style that is confessional from the main protagonist's point of view. Stevenson creates an atmosphere of controlled suspense, a gradual building up of a sense of horror, leading it to a shocking climax.


He put the glass to his lips and drank at one gulp. A cry followed; he reeled, staggered, clutched at the table and held on, staring with injected eyes, gasping with open mouth; as I looked there came, I thought, a change--he seemed to swell--his face became suddenly black and the features seemed to melt and alter--and the next moment, I had sprung to my feet and leaped back against the wall, my arm raised to shield me...[and] my mind submerged in terror.


Stevenson's deliberate use of the name Hyde was meant to be a metaphor and conveys as much when Mr. Utterson comments to his friend after both fail to find Hyde - ''If he shall be Mr. Hyde . . . I shall be Mr. Seek.''


Most readers have a mixed opinion about this rather bizarre storyline. Many liked it, as many didn't because such a story was not acceptable in those days. But, today, it is classified as a great classic, and R.L. Stevenson's best work.


Some readers have mentioned that this book is difficult to understand because of its highly literary character. They feel that Stevenson had unnecessarily used words that were difficult to understand I totally disagree with this contention. He adopted a style of writing that was popular in his time. His choice of words was appropriate and impacted the reader with a telling force.


“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” became the central theme for many writers and spawned many stories with cosmetic changes here and there, or some with changes that had to suit a new time, and a new age.


I liked this book for its sheer originality of plot


© M B Farookh. Mar. 2005


YOUR RATING ON

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - R L Stevenson
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DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE
Feb 27, 2004 11:31 PM 7260 Views

Clearly one of Robert Louis Stevenson?s Masterpieces, this book was actually born in one of his nightmares. The nightmare was so vivid that he managed to have the first draft of the book ready in less than three days. This book was written between the years of 1883 and 1887 when Stevenson was recovering from illness.


The book essentially talks about a man?s personality. It talks about society and how, more often than not, we need to mask our true feelings to such an extent that one day they finally burst out of us. It takes us through the mind of a scientist who forgets that there may be an extremely evil side to every discovery. However in this case more than society he pays the penalty himself. The scientist in mention here is Dr Jekyll who finds a medical formula by which he can split his personality into two. One is the part of him available for public display as the well known, generous and distinguished doctor of Medicine and the other side which he can allow no one to know about the mysterious and evil Mr Hyde.


While Jekyll is the ?Good Samaritan?, Hyde is the absolute opposite. And Jekyll loves Hyde for that. He loves the freedom Hyde allows him to be evil without bothering about his consequences. After all Jekyll believes that if ever things go out of hand he can just allow his alter ego to vanish from the face of the earth.


However things don?t go quite as planned and Dr Jekyll soon finds himself completely at the mercy of Hyde. He realizes he has created his own Frankenstein and really does not know how to contain him any longer. He realizes that the evil he has created could prove a menace to the whole of London but knows not what he can do to stop it. The only way Jekyll can kill Hyde is by killing himself which is exactly what he does.


This book is a must read and if it isn?t a part of your library at the moment, well it certainly deserves to be added ASAP.


- United States of America
Good mystery read
May 30, 2003 07:06 PM 7937 Views

Author:


The author of this story is Robert Louis Stevenson who has also written great books like Kidnapped and Treasure Island. His writing is sometimes hard to understand because he uses harder words. He was born in England and married a woman from California. He traveled all over the world mainly because he had to find a climate that would be best for his respiratory illness. The doctors thought he might die of


tuberculosis, however, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage at just 44 yrs.


Story:


It starts out from the description of a lawyer, Mr. Utterson and his cousin Mr. Enfield. One day they are strolling through the streets of London when they see a very odd looking house. Mr. Enfiled then remembers a story related to this house and tells it to Mr. Utterson: he was walking home on a late night when he sees a girl and an odd looking man walking quickly. The girl bumps into the man, and the man just leaves her lying and screaming on the ground. Even though the child is not hurt, a doctor and Mr. Enfield make him pay the girl’s family. They find the name of the hideous man as Mr. Hyde.


After hearing this story about Mr. Hyde, Mr. Utterson goes home and finds a will of his friend, Dr. Jekyll. In that will the doctor says that all of his fortune would go to Mr. Hyde. Mr. Utterson wants to find out more about the man and one day he meets him. He feels that there is something evil about the man. He feels that his friend, Dr. Jekyll is in danger.


From then on, Mr. Utterson has many strange experiences with Dr. Jekyll and another of his friends, Dr. Lanyon. With the help of Dr. Jekyll’s butler, Mr. Poole, the lawyer is able to find the very dark secret of both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.


This book is very short (only 100 pages), but one of the things I found bad about this book is it’s vocabulary. The author could have used easier words and sometimes it is hard to understand the story. If you read it, you should really look up the many big and hard words and then the story does make sense. I’m not going to tell you the secret (you probably have already guessed it) and you should read this book. It isn’t the best book I have read, but it is not that bad.


What We Do When We Read Such Mysteries?...
Jul 19, 2002 04:26 PM 6220 Views

INTRODUCTION: The most curious fact about the detective story is that it makes its greatest appeal precisely to those classes of people who are most immune to other forms of daydream literature.The typical detective story addict is a doctor or clergyman or scientist or artist, i.e., a fairly successful professional man with intellectual interests and well-read in his own field, who could never stomach the Saturday Evening Post or True Confessions or movie magazines or comics.


PARAGRAPH 1:


It is sometimes said that detective stories are read by respectable law-abiding citizens in order to gratify in fantasy the violent or murderous wishes they dare not, or are ashamed to, translate into action.This may be true for readers of thrillers(which I sometimes enjoy), but it is quite false for the reader of detective stories.On the contrary, the magical satisfaction the latter provide(which makes them escape literature, not works of art) is the illusion of being dissociated from the murderer.


PARAGRAPH 2:


The magic formula is an innocence which is discovered to contain guilt; then a suspicion of being the guilty one; and finally a real innocence from which the guilty other has been expelled, a cure effected, not by me or my neighbours, but by the miraculous intervention of a genius from outside who removes guilt by giving knowledge of guilt.(The detective story subscribes, in fact, to the Socratic daydream: ''SIN IS IGNORANCE'').


THE STORY:


This story is exactly the same I described about how people get cynical and are addicted towards such nuisance and also put in all such possible difficult meanings and words which makes the reader irritated.


So I would like to tell all you people that don't take interest in such novels where you cannot get any knowledge out of it; but instead it likely hampers your brains to think upon what does that particular word actually means.


THE CONCLUSION:


I would like to leave a small message for the writer Mr.R.L.Stevenson that make stories in a simpler way through which knowledge is enhanced or perhaps put easier words so that the reader does not have to think twice to read or ever rack his/her brains.


----------------------THANKS A LOT--------------------------


Would have been better it the author used simpler
Dec 08, 2000 03:14 AM 6923 Views

Overall this is a good book but I thik this streched too much. The book would have been much nicer if they did not have word that not even college students knew and they did not strech it so much. I would not highly reccomend this book but I guess you could call it an ok book. I enjoyed the story that is after looking up all those words in the dictionary. I wished the author used simpler words...



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