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Reader discussion: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Public reader discussion about The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the WeRead Catalog by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Best film adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

By DragonCliff9729

I know there have been a bunch of film versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but I’m not sure which ones are actually worth watching. It feels like everyone always has a go-to pick for other Gothic horror classics—like Coppola’s Dracula, Nosferatu, Frankenstein—people just talk about those all the time. But I don’t really hear the same thing for Jekyll & Hyde. So… is there a standout adaptation I should check out?

Absolutely love Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, are there any books like it?

By smallSparrow6827

Honestly, if a book has gothic horror/thriller vibes, hints of suppressed homosexuality, and some scientific stuff thrown in, I’m probably gonna love it. Any suggestions?

Just read the gothic novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and no book has ever left me more sad and terrified.

By NovelWandering

It’s definitely a great read, no question. But honestly, one thing becomes pretty obvious: a lot of modern media with the Jekyll and Hyde idea just misses the point completely. By the end, Stevenson’s interest in the psychology of it really comes out. Hyde wasn’t some separate guy or second personality, he was basically Jekyll in disguise and without any conscience. Jekyll knew exactly what he was doing whenever he was Hyde, so it wasn’t really possession or some “evil alter ego” like a lot of versions make it seem. Even if Jekyll ended up hating Hyde, which is kind of a strange meta thing, it still doesn’t change that it was the same conscious person in both states, just giving in to temptation.

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

By DreamyRiver

Just wrapped up Treasure Island by RLS this weekend—really enjoyed it. He’s such a good writer. I also grabbed a few other Stevensons, plus like 100+ other classics on Amazon, all for free: http://docdro.id/s4Ylfi4

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Final Discussion

By rhyme_mirror1996

This month’s pick on Keeping Up With The Classics was **The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde**. Just a heads-up, this whole thread is gonna have spoilers for the entire book, so if you’ve already read it, come on in and join the discussion! Quick book info: it’s the older/alternate title for a novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886. These days people usually just call it *Jekyll & Hyde*. The story follows a London lawyer, John Gabriel Utterson, who ends up looking into the weird stuff between his longtime friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and the evil Edward Hyde. Schedule-wise: the classics list is up, announcement was October 1, first half discussion is October 16, and the final discussion is October 29.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)

By AmberWire84

Hi all! I just got done reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and thought I’d drop a few thoughts. I picked it mostly because it’s a short one and I’m trying to do a book a week this year for the first time ever, so I figured it’d be a pretty easy way to keep that going. That part was true, but I’m also really glad I read it. 19th century English classics are always kind of cool when you think about the era they came out of, and you can feel that all through this novella. Not my absolute favorite ever, but definitely worth reading. The main thing here is clearly the whole split-self idea, and the book pretty much says that straight up. Still, I thought the way it’s handled was actually interesting and a bit different. Dr. Henry Jekyll is this respected, popular, generous man, while Mr. Edward Hyde has dropped all that status, is basically pure badness, and comes off as ugly in both looks and behavior to everyone he meets. What got me was that Jekyll almost seems to crave Hyde’s freedom on the inside. He enjoys the change, the nighttime violence, and whatever awful things Hyde gets into in the hidden parts of London. So even though Jekyll is the public “good” one, he sort of feels like the real danger, which reminds me a little of Frankenstein. You could almost say Hyde is the truest version of Jekyll. Even the whole science angle seems to point that way. At first, going back and forth between the two is easy because Hyde is weaker, but then Jekyll keeps wanting that side more and more, and Hyde gets stronger until Jekyll can’t really stay himself without a lot of chemical help. Stevenson does that really well. It works as a comment on the different mixes people have inside them, and I’ve also heard people connect it to Marvel’s Hulk, which makes sense to me. I also think the book feels shaped by science and the big ideas of the time. Jekyll is basically doing chemistry and seems to be poking at the next step in human development, maybe in line with Darwin, or maybe with the later split between mind and behavior people were talking about, or even with chemistry itself since the periodic table and atomic ideas were still pretty new. We kind of forget now how fresh all that must have felt to readers back then. A story like this, or The Time Machine, or Jules Verne, probably hit in a way that mixed excitement with fear about what science could do. That distance from the original moment takes some of that feeling away, but I think it’s a big part of why these books still matter. I do have questions though. The biggest one is: what exactly was Jekyll doing as Hyde? The book really only spells out a couple of nasty things — the little girl in the street and the killing of Sir Danvers Carew. But Hyde is supposedly out roaming around all the time, so what else was going on? London doesn’t seem to be acting like there’s this huge monster loose, and people don’t seem terrified of being outside at night either. I kind of wish Stevenson had hinted at more of Hyde’s activities. Jekyll clearly remembers enough, and says it’s too horrible to put in writing for Utterson. Also, I have to say, the Victorian conversation style made me laugh a little sometimes. Lanyon, Utterson, Jekyll, and Enfield all sound so stiff and serious, and then there are these odd promises about not opening something or not going somewhere until a certain day. I don’t know if that was a common thing in books back then or just a way to push the story forward, but it was a little goofy in a charming way. Anyway, I’m glad I read it and kept my streak going. If you want something quick that’s still interesting, I’d say check out Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And yeah, think about the science and philosophy stuff happening around it too. Do we really control ourselves? Which side of us would actually win if we were split apart? Are we all just different blends of Jekyll and Hyde? Maybe.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Chapter “Search for Mr Hyde” Discussion

By looks_velvet

Utterson figuring out how he knows both Jekyll and Hyde (and that whole will angle) was kind of a surprise to me. I don’t know why, but I expected him to just be this hard, grim narrator and for the title characters to do all the real talking and action instead. And that midnight visit to his medical friend—honestly it feels weirdly familiar, like who hasn’t had that late-night “why are you here right now?” moment with someone? I kept wondering if they’d actually get a warm welcome, or if it’s more tense than that. Also, once Lanyon says he’s done with Jekyll, Utterson just kind of snaps into detective mode and rushes off. Then he spots Hyde and confronts him and I’m like… okay, how did it go from calm to that fast? The whole push-pull between those two men felt really loaded. The part where Utterson goes to Jekyll and talks to the butler, and somehow you find out Hyde can get into the dissecting room when Jekyll isn’t around… that seems way too convenient to not be suspicious.

TIL Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written during a six-day cocaine high during which he generated sixty thousand words.

By early_cat

Seriously, someone get George R. R. Martin some cocaine—this is getting ridiculous.

I finished reading 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' last night..

By kind_seal

Honestly, what a story. Before I read it, my family was pretty amazed I’d somehow never come across it before. “You’ve never heard the phrase Jekyll and Hyde?” Nope, I really hadn’t, so you can probably guess the ending hit me out of nowhere. I liked Stevenson’s writing a lot too — first book of his I’ve read — and the way he describes people and things. I guess I just wanted to say it’s a really strong novel, and definitely a messed-up one. What did everyone else think of it?

[High school english-Jekyll and hyde] can someone explain how Hyde died?

By kind_wallet2001

From what I’ve seen, it looks like he might’ve killed himself, but I can’t find anything in the book that actually points to that. Am I missing something, or does anyone know what’s going on?

Question about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

By marten-bright

I finished the book, but my memory is pretty foggy, and I’m trying to write a short funny story that’s sort of based on the same idea. One question I can’t shake: did Hyde ever manage to become Jekyll again in public? Like, what was stopping him—did he know exactly how long the change would last, or did he start feeling it coming before he went back? And did he ever turn back on his own earlier than he meant to, and I’m just not remembering it right? Also, I’m not 100% sure about the details, but I feel like Hyde did remember being Hyde. Can someone confirm that?

Jekyll and Hyde meaning

By SilverDragon2002

If someone says this to me, I’m honestly not sure what they mean.

Books similar to "The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"?

By LunarRiver

Just finished “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and I really, really liked how it built up this growing anxiety while you slowly learn what’s going on, then somehow it all clicks at the end when everything connects. Now I’m trying to find another book that gives me that same feeling—like I stay kind of on edge the whole time and only get answers at the very end, even though it’s still hard to figure out in the middle. (Sorry if my English is bad)

TIL Robert Louis Stevenson wrote "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" during a 6-day cocaine binge.

By little-coin

I really love Robert Louis Stevenson. He lived on this island in the central Pacific that my mom’s family is from. When I was in high school, I actually stayed there for like three months and read all his work in his old house. It was honestly pretty amazing.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

By Calm-Minnow

I saw this on the Criterion Channel in that “Pre-Code Horror” set and I’m honestly like… wow, this is really good? It feels way more layered than I expected, the acting is solid, it’s got themes that feel weirdly current, and yes, it’s also kind of shockingly horny. I was not ready for a 1930s movie to be this direct about stuff like masculinity, (TW) intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, and class resentment. Also sorry, but I don’t see people talk about it enough, so I had to get my thoughts out. The whole thing is basically Jekyll and Hyde + Ivy, who sings in bars (which… feels like a euphemism). Miriam Hopkins plays Ivy and she’s great. Some moments with her are genuinely hard to watch, because Hyde is awful to her and then later she basically pleads and grovels for Jekyll to take care of her. I really didn’t expect where the character ends up, and it kind of hit me in a bad way. There’s a bunch of subtext going on too. Hyde is a monster, obviously, but he also leans on class resentment in a way that’s really convincing and disturbing. I keep wondering what that would’ve landed like a couple years into the Great Depression. And it’s not like Jekyll’s “charity” makes him look better in the eyes of his people—like offering too much care is treated as just as bad as admitting you’re literally a monster. Ivy also seems like she can figure out that going to authorities won’t do much good because of class differences, even though she still naively assumes Jekyll will protect her like a “gentleman.” What really got me is how modern it feels about gender and violence. Jekyll acts like he’s innocent and proper, but Hyde shows up way too easily. And the fact that Hyde comes out and goes after vulnerable women like Ivy first feels important. When Jekyll comes back, his first move is basically to pay Ivy off, and he gets weirdly uncomfortable when she shows up at his place asking for real protection. Muriel is willing to stick by Jekyll for a long time too (even after he flakes on her at her own engagement party), until he finally turns into Hyde in front of her. It’s all pretty obvious, but I still wasn’t expecting the movie to frame it like “here’s some universal truth,” especially not from 1931. It’s the kind of thing I’d expect to see recontextualized way later (like those modern takes on classic stuff). And the horror stuff is fun on its own—the Hyde makeup looks good, even if it’s pretty dated/problematic like you’d expect. Frederic March is great as both Jekyll’s kind of nerdy vibe and Hyde’s rage-under-the-skin. Hyde is also just rude in a way that makes it extra uncomfortable. The exterior London scenes have that foggy atmosphere, and there are some off-kilter Expressionist touches. The fight/action parts are surprisingly good too, and he keeps getting more animal-like with every transformation. TL;DR: If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. It’s almost 100 years old and somehow still hits. Has anyone else seen it? What did you think?

Jekyll and Hyde, chapter 8 confusion

By Superuser

Hey everyone, I’m reading *Jekyll and Hyde* right now, and I’m kinda thrown off by something in the plot. In chapter 7, Utterson and Enfield actually witness Jekyll transforming and then Hyde gets shoved back / the window gets slammed shut—so in chapter 8, why is Utterson still questioning Hyde’s real identity? And then later he acts so surprised when the truth comes out, like he didn’t already have an idea. Am I missing something here? 🤔

TIL: Robert Louis Stevenson wrote "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" during a 6-day cocaine binge.

By Jar1975

Honestly, it feels like Stephen King was so messed up when he wrote Cujo that he probably doesn’t even remember doing it. Like, that book is a big 319-page bestseller, but the way people talk, it sounds like he was drunk and drugged enough to have no memory of writing it.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekylland Mr. Hyde Chapter “Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case” Discussion

By SealSpring

Tomorrow I’m going to put up a wrap-up post for the whole book, so for now let’s talk about the final chapter. Some things to think about: - What did you make of Dr. Jekyll’s explanation of how it all started and how it ended? - Now that the story’s finished, does it make sense that Hyde looks different from Jekyll? - Did this chapter clear up most of your questions, or do you still have some? - How do you feel about Dr. Jekyll after hearing his version? - Anything else you want to bring up? Also, I know the wrap-up thread will technically go up on Saturday and we usually take weekends off. If you can’t get to it right away, that’s fine — it’ll stay pinned through the weekend, so just stop by whenever you can and add your thoughts. Links: Project Gutenberg Standard eBook Librivox Audiobook Last Line: So now I set down the pen and seal my confession, and with that I bring the sad life of Henry Jekyll to its end.

"how does robert louis stevenson present mr guest from dr jekyll and mr hyde?" bro i will literally stab myself with my pencil

By basilcomet77

Uh, who’s that? I feel like I’m done for.

Thoughts on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and onto The Monk

By midnightsummer

Hey all, I just finished my first horror novella, *The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde*, and I was wondering what other people got from it while I get ready to move on to my first full horror novel, *The Monk*. I know the Jekyll and Hyde story is meant to work as an allegory, but what did you think it was saying the first time you read it? The part where Dr. Jekyll wants to do the more “evil” and “sinful” things without any punishment or guilt made me think of drug/alcohol addiction at first, before I started thinking about human evil or the darker side of people, which seems like the more common reading. Also, I thought the writing in *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* was pretty easy to follow, aside from a few times I had to check a dictionary, especially for something from 1886. Since *The Monk* was written about 100 years earlier, should I expect it to be a lot harder to get through?