Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a chilling exploration of the duality of human nature, set against the backdrop of Victorian London. The story unfolds primarily through the perspective of Mr. Utterson, a respectable lawyer and a close friend of the esteemed Dr. Henry Jekyll.
The narrative begins with a seemingly minor incident recounted by Mr. Enfield, Utterson's distant relative. Enfield describes witnessing a man, Mr. Hyde, trample a young girl in the street. A crowd gathers, demanding retribution. Hyde, remarkably, calmly offers a cheque in the name of Dr. Jekyll to compensate the girl's family. This cheque, surprisingly, clears Jekyll’s bank despite Hyde’s repulsive appearance and violent act. This strange connection between the reputable Dr. Jekyll and the abhorrent Mr. Hyde immediately piques Utterson's curiosity and sets the stage for the mystery that follows.
Utterson, concerned for his friend, investigates further. He discovers Jekyll has made a peculiar will, leaving his entire fortune to Hyde. This will further fuel Utterson's suspicion, as he cannot fathom why Jekyll, a man of science and high standing, would associate with such a detestable character. Utterson's inquiries lead him to encounter Hyde directly. This encounter leaves Utterson deeply disturbed. Hyde’s presence evokes a profound sense of unease and revulsion, a primal fear that Utterson cannot explain. He describes Hyde as having a deformed and almost subhuman appearance, though he struggles to pinpoint the exact nature of his deformity. It's not just his looks, but something fundamentally wrong about him.
As the story progresses, Hyde's actions escalate in violence. The most shocking incident is the brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew, a respected member of Parliament. The murder is witnessed by a maid and the description she provides chillingly matches, Hyde. The police investigation intensifies, focusing on Hyde as the prime suspect. Utterson, now deeply entangled in the affair, finds himself increasingly desperate to understand the connection between Jekyll and Hyde.
Following Carew's murder, Hyde disappears for a time. Jekyll, seemingly relieved by Hyde's absence, appears to return to his former self, engaging in charitable works and social engagements. He assures Utterson that the matter with Hyde is finished. However, this period of tranquility is short-lived. Jekyll's behavior begins to change again. He becomes withdrawn, moody, and secretive. He isolates himself in his laboratory, refusing to see even Utterson.
Utterson, worried about Jekyll's deteriorating condition, seeks the advice of Dr. Lanyon, a mutual friend and a highly respected physician. Lanyon, however, has become estranged from Jekyll. He reveals that he has witnessed something so terrifying that it has irrevocably damaged their friendship. Lanyon refuses to divulge the details but gives Utterson a sealed envelope, instructing him not to open it until after Jekyll's death or disappearance.
As Jekyll’s condition worsens, he sends Utterson a letter, which Utterson also keeps sealed. Shortly afterward, Lanyon dies, and Utterson opens the envelope given to him by the doctor. Inside, he finds a detailed account of Lanyon’s horrifying experience. Lanyon describes how he received a visit from Jekyll, who asked him to retrieve a specific drawer from his laboratory. Jekyll then mixed a potion from the drawer's contents and, before Lanyon's very eyes, transformed into Edward Hyde. This revelation confirms Utterson's worst fears: Jekyll and Hyde are the same person.
Utterson, now armed with Lanyon's narrative, opens the second sealed letter, the one from Jekyll. This final confession reveals the full extent of Jekyll's experiment. Jekyll, driven by a desire to explore the darker aspects of human nature, developed a potion that could separate his good and evil sides into two distinct personalities. He became Edward Hyde, a creature embodying all his repressed vices and desires. Initially, Jekyll could control the transformations, switching back and forth between his two selves. He reveled in the freedom that Hyde afforded him, indulging in immoral acts without jeopardizing his reputation as Jekyll.
However, as time passed, the potion's effects became unpredictable. Hyde began to emerge spontaneously, without the need for the potion. Jekyll found himself losing control, struggling to suppress Hyde's increasingly dominant and malevolent personality. He realized that Hyde was growing stronger, threatening to consume him entirely. The original potion that allowed him to become Jekyll again also started to fail. Jekyll, trapped in Hyde's form and facing imminent arrest for Carew's murder, writes his confession and then, presumably, takes his own life, finally ending Hyde's reign of terror.
The story concludes with Utterson reflecting on his friend's tragic fate. He is left to ponder the profound implications of Jekyll's experiment, the inherent duality of human nature, and the terrible consequences of attempting to separate good from evil.
Commentary
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a captivating and chilling novella that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Stevenson masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative, gradually revealing the horrifying truth behind the connection between the respectable Dr. Jekyll and the monstrous Mr. Hyde. The story serves as a powerful allegory for the struggle between good and evil within us all, exploring themes of morality, repression, and the corrupting influence of unchecked desires. The ambiguity surrounding Hyde's physical appearance, described more by the reactions he provokes than any specific features, adds to the sense of unease and underscores the subjective nature of morality. The novella’s enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal human flaws and its chilling reminder of the potential for darkness that lurks beneath the surface of even the most respectable individuals.