Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the commonly shortened title of the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a brilliantly novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, published in 1886. It is available freely today online. This work is a superb portrayal of manliness, and one of the finest descriptions of the mortal struggle with evil and temptation found outside of the Bible.

Its length is 25,497 words, and its vocabulary is strong in using colorful and powerful terms. It challenges simple, traditional views of right and wrong. This book skillfully explains temptation and resistance to it, which plagues all through individual addictions including daily struggles against obesity.

At least 9 movies have been made based on this story, most notably the 1931 version by the same name Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (film).

This fascinating tale was inspired by a nightmare. Unlike liberal novels, this book weaves religious themes and discourse seamlessly into the plot, as in:

“

“Well, sir,” he said, “here we are, and God grant there be nothing wrong.” “Amen, Poole,” said the lawyer.

”

Additional references to religious themes include "pious work," "blasphemies", "bible-word", "Hell" (4 times in various forms), and "devil" (4 times).

The book contains a conservative statement by the narrator of self-defense with a handgun: "I loaded an old revolver, that I might be found in some posture of self-defence."

The narrator's full name is Gabriel John Utterson, giving him the first name of the angel Gabriel.

Satan

This novella contains three pointed references to Satan, and indeed the entire work can be characterized as being about him. This book also contains a famous statement about God: "but in the law of God, there is no statute of limitations." (Chapter 2, Search for Mr. Hyde)

Quotes

"Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil."

"That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred."

"Dr. Jekyll ... came out of his seclusion, renewed relations with his friends, became once more their familiar guest and entertainer; and whilst he had always been known for charities, he was now no less distinguished for religion."

"As for the moral turpitude that man unveiled to me, even with tears of penitence, I cannot, even in memory, dwell on it without a start of horror."

"It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it ...."

"... all human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil."

"the terms of this debate are as old and commonplace as man; much the same inducements and alarms cast the die for any tempted and trembling sinner; and it fell out with me, as it falls with so vast a majority of my fellows, that I chose the better part and was found wanting in the strength to keep to it"

"and in my case, to be tempted, however slightly, was to fall"

"his brief condescension to my evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul"

Expressions popularized by the book

• bated breath - used by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, then fell into obscurity until the late 1800s, and a resurgence in use since 2000.
• driving rain - heavy rain driven by a strong wind

Chapters

• STORY OF THE DOOR
• SEARCH FOR MR. HYDE
• DR. JEKYLL WAS QUITE AT EASE
• THE CAREW MURDER CASE
• INCIDENT OF THE LETTER
• INCIDENT OF DR. LANYON
• INCIDENT AT THE WINDOW
• THE LAST NIGHT
• DR. LANYON’S NARRATIVE
• HENRY JEKYLL’S FULL STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Vocabulary

• scud
• "crushed phial in the hand and the strong smell of kernels"
• captives of Philippi
• doff
• insensate
• draught
• chirrupings
• hansom
• smote
• abjection
• reindue
• emulously
• coquetry
• gable
• sawbones
• greatcoat
• Damon and Pythias
• disquietude
• troglodytic
• fender
• scores
• fortnight
• Jack-in-the-Box
• pede claudo
• unobtrusive
• quailed
• napary
• bodego - a small grocery store often family owned and usually in a city, or (esp. in Spain) a wineship
• upola
• red baize
• cheval-glass
• sedulously
• amities
• mien
• "diaphanous and lawny texture"
• farrago
• hamsom

• inveterately
• faggots
• effulgence
• tincture
• ebullition
• millrace

Distortions of the book

This novella has been described as "Gothic", but it is not that at all. It is a dark tragedy that involves good and evil, but with powerful Christian themes.

The supposedly Gothic characteristics of this work are exceedingly general and not uniquely Gothic:

• dirty street where Hyde lived in Soho
• persistent fog and mist
• a so-called “sinister block of building” where Hyde gains entrance to Dr. Jekykll's home

See also

• Richard McDonough, "The Abuse of the Hypocrisy Charge in Politics,: Public Affairs Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 4 (Oct., 2009), pp. 287-307 (21 pages) - drawing an analogy between the charge of hypocrisy in politics and Jekyll and Hyde