The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde Book Review

 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

By R.L.Stevenson (Scottish Author) 

Published Year : 1886

Page Count: 65 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle PW 

Genre : Gothic, Horror, Classics, Science Fiction, 2025-read. 

Rating : 5/5 🌟 😎 😀 👌😇

Mr. Utterson is a very close and long term friend to Doctor Henry Jekyll. He is a lawyer and when he gets the latest draft of Dr. Jekyll's will, he is surprised and driven to his wit's end. Because, the terms of the will give a huge benefit to a hitherto unknown character Mr. Hyde. Mr. Utterson has heard some sinister accounts of the deeds of Mr. Hyde and is apprehensive of that personality. When he sees him involved with Jekyll, his curiosity and apprehension are piqued. As time goes, this Mr. Hyde becomes the perpetrator of a grisly murder and escapes. Jekyll becomes a recluse and someone who shuns all company, locking himself up in his laboratory behind his house. The story doesn't end on a happy note but on a rather shocking description of the events leading to the unbreakable crisis point for Jekyll and Hyde, where there is but one way to end it all! 

Dr. Jekyll has always believed in the multiple personalities within a person and has endeavored to separate them into distinct pockets. He prepares a chemical concoction and tries the potion on himself. Something strange and uncanny occurs. He is torn apart into good and pure evil. As time progresses, the good part slumbers more and evil reigns. The evil side does all kinds of abominable things and uses the good side as a escape and hideout body. Tying an evil persona to something good and weak willed therefore, is a mistake. Jekyll must have mused, initially, that while he plays the role of a good and responsible citizen, his weaknesses and not so honorable tendencies will play out through Hyde. No so lucky, he turned out to be!! 

I felt that the narration and the eventual confession all point to the same conclusion. I have read this book long back and remember little. I found many sentences really well written and have them all highlighted. Especially, the prose used in the confession letter of Jekyll. Do read this short novella that gives chills but also thrills.