Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Signet Classics) by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Book Reviews of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Signet Classics)
Book Review: Yet Always-Striking Reflections on the Alchemy of the Spirit
Summary: 4 Stars
A quick, enjoyable read, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde provides something of a reflection on the end of the spirit of alchemy which strove to connect the physical and the metaphysical through an almost-mystical mingling of the sciences with spirituality. Without cutting into the deeper considerations of philosophical schools, it is without question that humanity exists as a combination of various good and wicked impulses, although the promptings of such impulses will forever be relegated to the reflections of theologians and philosophers. In any case, the story of Henry Jekyll and his desire to remove from himself the inherent weakness of our somewhat duplicitous, multi-faced nature is the story of each member of humanity. It is our combined quest to always aim higher and to overcome those weakness which chain us to the lower strata of the waking world.
However, Henry Jekyll's story is also that of each fallen man who often attempts to ameliorate his condition by using his own power. It is also the story of a society which believes that it is within its collective power to create the world anew in holiness without the internal rectitude necessary to affect true change. His isolated alchemical processes expose him to the dubious character of Edward Hyde, an apparition of his dark, untamed humanity, which arrives on the scene precisely as Jekyll attempts to create himself anew by his own strength alone. The story of the good doctor's fall into a fancy for this darker side of himself is a fine example of the destruction of spirit which comes when the individual believes himself to be the sole master of his own amelioration. His own individualistic tendencies and their ultimate end are a continuous warning to all of humanity, for the same character flaws which are expressed with such noble intentions in Dr. Jekyll's character are those same well-intentioned hopes of all humanity which often lead to our own power-derived slip into the bowels of hell.
Book Review: Still relevant today
Summary: 4 Stars
This is another classic that has seeped into popular culture. And, although the ending is a foregone conclusion, this book is still an enjoyable read. Stevenson does a stellar job of keeping an air of mystery about Mr. Hyde and his vile acts. He presents vivid imagery that enhances the overall environment. Throughout the novel, the supernatural conflicts with science and logic. It is not until the very end when the full scope of Jekyll's experiments and actions come to light.
It's also interesting to think about what Mr. Hyde's terrible actions were, that lent him an evil aura in Victorian London. Let's see. . . He describes countless acts of undignified and secret pleasures, youthful indiscretions, highly irregular behavior, a morbid sense of shame. Couple that with the fact that all the men are unmarried bachelors . . . Hmmmm . . . .
Anyway, there are a couple of weak points in the book. The idea that Dr. Lanyon would become ill and succumb to death after seeing Jekyll's transformation seems far-fetched, even for this tale. Also, Utterson's lack of desire to find the truth seems a bit odd, although perhaps it is a reflection of the Victorian era which put respect and honor above truth.
This novel is still relevant to today. Although there are no magical elixirs, the news wires are, unfortunately, littered with stories about the dark underside of man. A seemingly normal person can suddenly go "postal" and destroy countless human lives. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for a quick and easy read.
Book Review: A true classic and very different from the films
Summary: 4 Stars
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; the words conjure up all sorts of images in my mind, mostly from the theatrical and cinematic depictions I've seen at different times in my life. I thought I knew the story well, and so I didn't expect to find myself surprised by much in the novel. How wrong I was!
The novel is interesting, because there are so many aspects of the story that are left to the imagination of the reader. Mr. Hyde's appearance, as well as his misdeeds, are never defined in black and white, but are instead only alluded to in a manner that almost makes them more horrifying. I was also intrigued with the complicated nature of the character of Dr. Jekyll, a man who desires to be seen as an upstanding individual, but is in many ways somewhat fascinated by the evil aspects of his nature.
I found this to be a great read, and far more thought provoking than I had anticipated. It is a very short read, around 100 pages, but provides plenty of "meat" for the reader to chew on. If you haven't taken the opportunity to try this book before, I would recommend it as a very enjoyable read. This has been a great start to my Classics Reading Challenge for 2008, and has left me thirsting for more!
Book Review: A Real Jekyll and Hyde Tale
Summary: 4 Stars
I have known about the basics of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story for as long as I can remember. This book has built an image over the years of being a classic tale of horror and fills the mind with many images. Yet actually, when I made the effort to sit down and read the book, it has a different affect. The writing and sequence of events in the book is pretty fragmented in many places. The book reads much more like a short story than a classic novel. Thus while reading the book, and certainly after completing the book, you can't help but to think of all the things and events that could have been added to the book to make it that classic novel that you originally envisioned. This book is certainly worth reading if anything just for the sake of Stevenson's perspective on the duality of man in the 19th century. Yet, take the book for what it is and don't set your expectations too high.Book Review: mysterious
Summary: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this book. At first it was very boring but after Stevenson introduced all the characters it began to be more interesting. This book has a lot of confusing events but you just have to stick with it until the end. Everything unravels at the end. I liked the mystery and the who done it kind of effect. I enjoy reading suspense type books such as this one. I beleive that some of the chracters in the book such as Utterson and Lanyon kind of suspect that they are the same person, but they just don't think that it could be possible. I think that they suspect it mainly because when Dr. Jekyll left his will and everything he has ever owned to Mr. Hyde it just didn't seem right. The way the crimes were commited were especially heinous during that period in time. I would recommend anyone who enjoys a suspenseful book to look into this one.