Focus on Drama: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Author’s information
Robert Louis Stevenson born in Scotland on November 13 in 1850. He was an admired Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. One of his most famous works is called ‘Treasure Island’, published in 1883, this was Stevenson's first novel. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, published three years later, became a best-seller. Kidnapped came out the same year and his career was established.

Information about the story
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novel written by the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson. The Book was published in 1886. Stevenson wrote the book in three days and the book was an enormous success. This novel was the most popular book Stevenson ever wrote.
The book is made into a movie and also into a musical. In 1910 the first film was made and in 1920 the most famous film version was made called “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Frank Wildhom and Leslie Briscusse turned the book into a musical and this musical was also made into a movie.


Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Movie trailer 2002

Short summary
The story is about Dr. Jekyll who wants to investigate the problem of good and evil. He thinks that they both exist in human beings. He wants to separate these two natures. The result of the experiment is that the evil nature prevails. With the anti poison he made, he can return to his good nature.
The result of the experiment is the evil creature Mr. Hyde.
Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. When Jekyll is Hyde, he commits all kinds of crimes and in the end he murders someone. The anti poison works less effective than before and when the crime is almost exposed he commits suicide.
The reader follows the story through the eyes of Mr. Utterson. He sees Jekyll as well as Hyde but just as the reader he isn’t informed by the fact that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person.

References to The Victorian Age
The Victorian Age has a couple of characteristics (see above) which can be found in Jekyll and Hyde. At first the story is melancholic; a lot of sad feelings are expressed in it. For example when Dr. Jekyll commits suicide. Also the story exposes the problems of daily life. The book is about the contradiction between good and evil.