Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Rating:
Summary: THE PENULTIMATE GOTHIC MYSTERY
Review: Along with "Dracula" and "Frankenstein," Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is a part of that great immortal triad of gothic terrors from the 19th century from which a seemingly endless stream of fans, imitators, critics, and dreamers continue to derive unmitigated inspiration. But despite its classic status, and the fact that virtually everyone in the English-speaking world can instantly recognize the story's title, few have ever actually read Stevenson's little nightmare (the Bantam edition runs to no more than 114 pages, including Jerome Charyn's afterword)or even seen one of its many cinematic incarnations. Of the aforementioned trio, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" certainly appears the most neglected. This, despite the fact that it is certainly the most accessible. It is indeed much shorter than either "Dracula" or "Frankenstein," and anyone with good eyes can read it in a day. Even the visually challenged amongst us can do so in two. More importantly, this book is certainly the best written of the three (in)famous works, as Stevenson was by far the most proficient and thoroughly accomplished wordsmith of the authors who gave us these benighted classics. Moreover, despite its reputation as a horror story, it is in fact more of a Victorian mystery, and for those who do not much care for horror is surely a more palatable selection than either of its brothers.

That last point is perhaps part of the problem. Readers who come to Stevenson's novella expecting to find a giant Hyde rampaging through London like Godzilla in Tokyo, or even doing his best Hannibal Lecter imitation, will be sadly disappointed. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is not about blood and thunder, however valuable those elements undeniably are in their proper place. Rather, it is a story of philosophy, soul-searching, sin and redemption. It is a subtle, scholarly tale in which much is implied but little shown, and where the goblins which haunt the London fog are only rarely permitted to stumble out to us. The modern reader, particular one weaned on such drivel as the "Scream" movies or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," will have to unlearn much he may have come to believe about effective fantasy in order to savor Stevenson's masterpiece.

Beyond that, the story's classic status and innumerable adaptations and parodies in the cinema and pop culture (particularly in the classic Bugs Bunny episode) have vampirized the tale of much of its major element--mystery. Nobody today opens this book with any doubt as to the true relationship between Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. However bowlderized our modern perceptions of this story have become, we nonetheless all know from the outside where Hyde really comes from. So the mystery that must have been so opaque, so innovative and exciting to the original audience that had nothing but Stevenson's own story to go by, is denied us. To some, that makes reading this book little more than a minor chore.

And that's a shame, because no matter how familiar this tale of the duality of Man and his eternal struggle between his Dark and Light sides may have become to us, it remains one of the most readable and thoroughly pleasurable books of its era. Stevenson's prose is precise, and with short, sure strokes he paints a tapestry of the human psyche and its unhallowed depths the like of which no modern slasher film has ever approached. Granted, the story may have been better served to give Hyde a bit more time on-stage. Perhaps some of the characters could have used some more fleshing-out. An epilogue might have served to tie the narrative up more securely...

...may, perhaps, might...ultimately those words do not matter, for whatever "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" might not be is irrelevant compared to what it is: the penultimate masterpiece of gothic mystery, and a classic that will endure long after that very genre has itself otherwise disappeared. Read it for what it is, and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: THE PENULTIMATE GOTHIC MYSTERY
Review: Along with "Dracula" and "Frankenstein," Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is a part of that great immortal triad of gothic terrors from the 19th century from which a seemingly endless stream of fans, imitators, critics, and dreamers continue to derive unmitigated inspiration. But despite its classic status, and the fact that virtually everyone in the English-speaking world can instantly recognize the story's title, few have ever actually read Stevenson's little nightmare (the Bantam edition runs to no more than 114 pages, including Jerome Charyn's afterword)or even seen one of its many cinematic incarnations. Of the aforementioned trio, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" certainly appears the most neglected. This, despite the fact that it is certainly the most accessible. It is indeed much shorter than either "Dracula" or "Frankenstein," and anyone with good eyes can read it in a day. Even the visually challenged amongst us can do so in two. More importantly, this book is certainly the best written of the three (in)famous works, as Stevenson was by far the most proficient and thoroughly accomplished wordsmith of the authors who gave us these benighted classics. Moreover, despite its reputation as a horror story, it is in fact more of a Victorian mystery, and for those who do not much care for horror is surely a more palatable selection than either of its brothers.

That last point is perhaps part of the problem. Readers who come to Stevenson's novella expecting to find a giant Hyde rampaging through London like Godzilla in Tokyo, or even doing his best Hannibal Lecter imitation, will be sadly disappointed. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is not about blood and thunder, however valuable those elements undeniably are in their proper place. Rather, it is a story of philosophy, soul-searching, sin and redemption. It is a subtle, scholarly tale in which much is implied but little shown, and where the goblins which haunt the London fog are only rarely permitted to stumble out to us. The modern reader, particular one weaned on such drivel as the "Scream" movies or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," will have to unlearn much he may have come to believe about effective fantasy in order to savor Stevenson's masterpiece.

Beyond that, the story's classic status and innumerable adaptations and parodies in the cinema and pop culture (particularly in the classic Bugs Bunny episode) have vampirized the tale of much of its major element--mystery. Nobody today opens this book with any doubt as to the true relationship between Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. However bowlderized our modern perceptions of this story have become, we nonetheless all know from the outside where Hyde really comes from. So the mystery that must have been so opaque, so innovative and exciting to the original audience that had nothing but Stevenson's own story to go by, is denied us. To some, that makes reading this book little more than a minor chore.

And that's a shame, because no matter how familiar this tale of the duality of Man and his eternal struggle between his Dark and Light sides may have become to us, it remains one of the most readable and thoroughly pleasurable books of its era. Stevenson's prose is precise, and with short, sure strokes he paints a tapestry of the human psyche and its unhallowed depths the like of which no modern slasher film has ever approached. Granted, the story may have been better served to give Hyde a bit more time on-stage. Perhaps some of the characters could have used some more fleshing-out. An epilogue might have served to tie the narrative up more securely...

...may, perhaps, might...ultimately those words do not matter, for whatever "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" might not be is irrelevant compared to what it is: the penultimate masterpiece of gothic mystery, and a classic that will endure long after that very genre has itself otherwise disappeared. Read it for what it is, and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde
Review: Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde was an okay book. It was just okay because I thought that having most of the novel told through the eyes of a man, Mr. Utterson, who would not have been part of the story except for being Jekyll's lawer, was a little different than the way I'm used to hearing the story told.
However, when Mr. Danvers was murdered for no reason, I felt that the story has gotten my attention. The act of senseless violence was definitly a great point in the book.
I will tell people who might this book that if they enjoy reading about a scientist who is just on the wrong side of strange, but want a book easily read, to read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Book Worth Reading
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was the book of the century. It was a novel that did a great job dealing with the good versus evil controversy that is within all of us. The character of Mr. Hyde showed that even someone as good as Dr. Jekyll had a side that wasn't perfect. The characters had to struggle through the times of the Victorian period when people were very opinionated and were a lot like the people of society today. Everyone has another side to them and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde can help you find that side. I highly recommend reading this great novel. It can help you deal with the good versus evil that is within you.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a book about a doctor who separates his evil self from his good self. He creates a potion that changes him from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is a well respected doctor in London. He is a good hearted man. Mr. Hyde is a cruel and insaine murder. He has a deformity but no one is able to describe it.
I belivie that every one has a good and a bad side. One side is shown a lot more than the other side. I do not understand why someone would try to separate their good from their bad. If it were possible, many people would try to separate their to sides, and if they did, then if our bad side is like that of Mr. Hyde, there would be a lot crimes to day.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a book about a doctor who separates his evil self from his good self. He creates a potion that changes him from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is a well respected doctor in London. He is a good hearted man. Mr. Hyde is a cruel and insaine murder. He has a deformity but no one is able to describe it.
I belivie that every one has a good and a bad side. One side is shown a lot more than the other side. I do not understand why someone would try to separate their good from their bad. If it were possible, many people would try to separate their to sides, and if they did, then if our bad side is like that of Mr. Hyde, there would be a lot crimes to day.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a very unique book. It was hard for me to get interested in it because in the beginning it was kind of confusing. As th book goes on it pieces itself together and starts making since. I didn't really enjoy Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because it wasn't the kind of book I would usually read. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would be a great book for people who enjoy science fiction, confusing books, and like jumping from different character's points of view. I would probably have liked the book more if it didn't jump from the different points of view and different subjects so much. The part of the bookkk I dislliked the most was the last chapter when Dr. Jekyll was telling the storyy in his point of view. The best part of the book was in the middle whenn everything started piecing itself together and making since to me. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was an okay book for me, but I couldn't really get interesssted in it. If you like to read science fiction yoou should probably take the chance and reaad the book. I hope that the other people who read this book find it more enjoyable that I did. Good Luck!!!

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a very unique book. It was hard for me to get interested in it because in the beginning it was kind of confusing. As th book goes on it pieces itself together and starts making since. I didn't really enjoy Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because it wasn't the kind of book I would usually read. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would be a great book for people who enjoy science fiction, confusing books, and like jumping from different character's points of view. I would probably have liked the book more if it didn't jump from the different points of view and different subjects so much. The part of the bookkk I dislliked the most was the last chapter when Dr. Jekyll was telling the storyy in his point of view. The best part of the book was in the middle whenn everything started piecing itself together and making since to me. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was an okay book for me, but I couldn't really get interesssted in it. If you like to read science fiction yoou should probably take the chance and reaad the book. I hope that the other people who read this book find it more enjoyable that I did. Good Luck!!!

Rating:
Summary: Too Common of a Theme
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an easy read. Robert Louis Stevenson has his characters remain flat throughout the story. The events are told at face value and details are limited throughout this book. Stevenson starts the book out as a mystery, leading one to wonder who this hideous and purely evil Hyde truly is and what he wants. Throughout the story it looks like he is holding something over Dr. Jekyll by means of blackmail. The two main characters are introduced through a rather unimportant character, Enfield, telling of his first encounter with Hyde.
The story line was phenomenal and unique at the time it was written. Unfortunately, because it is a classic, most people start reading the book already knowing the outcome. The mysterious atmosphere of the story is ruined as the majority of readers have a good idea of who this Hyde character really is.
My feelings on this book are neutral. I definitely would not consider it one of the best books I have ever read, but it isn't the worst either. It tells the message for which it was created, but there is not much more than that. It is the classic story of the duality of man, good and evil, which, again, was a unique story line at the time it was written, but too common of a theme today.

Rating:
Summary: One of literature's Excellently Written Suspense Tales
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is more than a book of suspense and horror, but it makes you think of things that relate to life.

You have to read this book for yourself because it contaplates from "what others have heard about the story". Here you have a human being that has split himself into two different personalities. One is a man of conscience and the other one is this man who has a taste for evil. The "potion" created by compounding together reactive chemcials makes Dr. Jykell become depended on it, and he has also indulge himself in his evil twisted side.

When Jykell quoted, "that man has two sides" (which is good and evil), I think that Stevenson demostrated well within the character that he made a point to what he did and what he had become. That is when he changes from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde that he was only pulling out what man chooses to be.

This shows that man has a choice to be good or evil. But what makes Dr. Henry Jekyll case so unsual is that he creates a formula, a formula that he becomes addicted to, and he can no longer transform back from evil to good. He was premanently becoming Edward Hyde, someone he never thought that he had the capablity of being. Discovering the potion seem like his worse nightmare.

And it was.