When he published The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson was already the celebrated author of Treasure Island, but with his latest work he brewed up an intoxicating masterpiece—one part fascinating mystery and one part psychological thriller—forever solidifying his reputation as the one of the world’s greatest writers. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plumbs the depths of human nature to offer up a compelling argument about the nature of good and evil. A classic of British Literature and an early example of science fiction, the novel serves as a warning of the darkness lurking inside each and every one of us should we choose to let it loose. So here are five reasons to teach Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
- The novel is an illuminating rumination on human nature. When we think of the battle between good and evil, we often picture an external battle, but what about the one raging internally? Inside each one of us there are diametrically opposed forces vying for control. Dr. Jekyll’s experiments begin only after he has realizes that he is comprised of two different sides with contrasting values and desires. His twisted goal of releasing his evil side from the constraints of the good is what leads to his destruction. In that, there is a lesson for us all. What would happen in our own lives if we forsook our consciences and freed our darkest desires?
- It’s also a rollicking mystery tale with a classic twist ending. Although the novel’s twist ending might be somewhat dampened by its prevalence in popular culture, the story itself is a thrilling mystery: Why has respectable Dr. Jekyll suddenly taken up with villainous Mr. Hyde? What is the connection between the two men? Is it blackmail or something more nefarious? As the plot unfolds, so grows the reader’s desire to know just what connects the two men—culminating in one of the best twist endings of all time.
- It’s a story of allegorical richness. But a twist ending does not a classic make. What could have been a throwaway melodrama is instead full of insight into human nature—thanks to Stevenson’s wife, Fanny. The author awoke one morning from a horrible nightmare and wrote Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a feverish haste. When he presented the new manuscript to Fanny, she pointed out the flaws in the story. True, it was a gripping yarn, but she saw a missed opportunity to establish a deeper meaning. She suggested he rewrite it as an allegory. According to some sources, Stevenson burned the original manuscript, so he would not be tempted to rely on it and rewrote the entire novel from scratch in just a few days. The result? The deep psychological moral we see in the story today.
- The story contains life lessons about addiction, obsession, and abandon. The novel never states what secret desires drove Dr. Jekyll to invent his sinister alter ego, and through that clever omission, we can project our own temptations onto the character—and learn from his mistakes. Any kind of addiction, obsession, or mania fits the storyline—anything or anyone we believe we can “quit” at any time, yet for some reason, don’t. Many times, we are as foolish as Dr. Jekyll—making ourselves a slave to our own Mr. Hyde.
- Jekyll and Hyde's double life is an even more powerful metaphor in the digital age. Now more than ever, students (and we adults, too) can live a double life—one in reality and one online. Just like Dr. Jekyll, what we present to the world can become a carefully crafted façade. And just as Mr. Hyde feels free to slink into the London Streets and do whatever he pleases, the digital world offers a hidden world of temptation shielded by seeming anonymity. But just as Mr. Hyde brought down Dr. Jekyll, the double life leads to unhappiness and ruin. The novel gives a starting point to discuss the dangers of the online world.
Want to teach Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a more interactive and immersive way? Check out our Reader’s Theater Script-Story adaptation of the novel. These two script-stories include deep-thinking discussion topics as well as background information on the novel and its themes.