The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Point: A secret life can never be kept a secret.
Path: Stevenson leads the reader through the strange case of a man who lives a double life. This fast past Victorian “thriller” explores the question, “What would a normally moral man look like if he had no inhibitions?”
Sources: Written after a dream on a similar theme, Stevenson displayed to the 19th century English public the secret life so common among humanity. In an age when
Agreement: This is an excellent read with an imaginative theme. The author’s point is driven home as the “moral” Dr. Jekyll realizes that he is becoming more and more like what he has experimented with.
Disagreement: At first I was disillusioned with the apparent acceptance of a duality of nature in man (man is both good and evil). But arriving at the end, especially the final writings of Dr. Jekyll, I believe that he is showing the hypocrisy of trying to live “morally” for the wrong reasons. No man is “good” in himself. Rather, as one indulges his flesh, any possibility of a “morality” quickly dissipates.
Personal App: Someone once said, “Watch your thoughts – they become actions.”
Stars: 4 out of 5
It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.
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