Corey+Singore

 __**The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde**__ __**By Robert Louis Stevenson**__

 __**Plot Overview:**__ The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a very strange story. It’s basically told of one guy being two people. It becomes the story when Dr. Henry Jekyll drinks a strange potion, which separates his good side and his dark, mysterious side. This mysterious, dark side would be Mr. Hyde, a uncontrollable, deformed, and free of conscience. Note that Jekyll only would become Hyde when he took the potion, but would also change back by taking the potion. Also, Jekyll would take the potion because he felt more alive and younger when he was Mr. Edward Hyde. The whole story is how Dr. Jekyll becomes stranger and stranger and loses touch with his friends. Eventually a year goes by where Dr. Jekyll becomes very noticeably different. As days and weeks go by, Dr. Jekyll has a, relationship, with Mr. Hyde, and writes to him regularly. But after Hyde murders a person, Dr. Jekyll claims to not talk to him anymore. Eventually Jekyll refuses visitors and keeps to himself in his laboratory. Utterson takes the letter to a clerk, Mr. Guest, and he claims that Hyde writes similar to Jekyll. Eventually Lanyon goes on a seek and find mission. He must follow the instructions of the letter and go the next spot and receive the next item. He does so and eventually meets with Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde ask him if he has the things he asked for and Utterson says yes. After Hyde drinks the concoction he ask Lanyon if he would like to see the outcome. Lanyon says yes and is shocked to see what is before his eyes. He sees Dr. Jekyll before his eyes and under his illness he dies of shock. The rest of the story is basically a manhunt for Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll goes to sleep one night and wakes up as Mr. Hyde, and realizes that Hyde is starting to take over. Jekyll then tries to refuse his urge of evil and not take the potion, but does so and brings out Mr. Hyde. Hyde on that night murders Sir Danvers Carew, a client of Utterson. After doing so, Jekyll tells himself he will never take the potion again, and starts looking for a cure. But it was too late, Hyde had too much power, and would just transform Jekyll into Hyde. Jekyll or, Hyde, knew that he couldn’t stay at home because the potions weren’t working. He moved to Hyde’s apartment so no one would find him. Eventually he cant stand being Hyde and looks across London for ingredients to become Jekyll again. Eventually Jekyll realizes that he must stop Hyde. He writes a letter to Mr. Utterson explaining everything. Then Jekyll becomes Hyde and commits suicide.

 __**Character List:**__

__**Dr. Henry Jekyll:**__ Very respectable doctor/scientist who is friends with Mr. Lanyon and Mr. Utterson. Has always been getting in trouble since childhood and does not like it. Has been looking for ways to get rid of “dark side”. Generally a nice guy until he brings Edward Hyde into the world.

__**Mr. Edward Hyde:**__ Looks almost deformed, and has act of violence written all over him. Has been described by others as rude, cruel, and ugly. Has a stranger version of language, not like Dr. Jekyll. Brought into the world by Dr. Henry Jekyll.

__**Dr. Hastie Lanyon:**__ One of Jekyll best friends, and also a scientist. Unlike Jekyll, who is a metaphysical scientist, he is a materialist scientist. First person to see or notice that Jekyll is different.

 __**Quotations:**__

**"Here, then, as I lay down the pen, and proceed to seal up my confession I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end." (138, Stevenson)** This quote is written as if Dr. Jekyll is upset with his life. He acts as if the ego of Mr. Hyde will still be living and will not die with him.

“**Why did you compare them, Guest?” he inquired suddenly. “Well, sir,” returned the clerk, “there is a rather singular resemblance; the two hands are in many points identical: only differently sloped.” (52, Stevenson)** This quote is basically saying that the two are the same, but it is comparing writing. When the quote says that in many points the hands are identical, one could take that the author is saying that Jekyll and Hyde are identical.

“**If he be Mr. Hyde,” he had thought, “I shall be Mr. Seek.” (21, Stevenson)** This quote to me was out to be more humorous, referring to the game “hide and seek”. Utterson has a feeling that Hyde and Jekyll have a connection but he is not sure how. He thinks that Jekyll is “Hyde-ing” something and is not telling him.

**__Themes and Symbols:__**

A symbol that I think that most people might over look in this story is the actual character names, Jekyll and Hyde. While doing research on this, I found out that “Hyde” actually means “hide” in Danish. I also found that “Jekyll” means “an icicle”. I think that Stevenson put these as his names on purpose so that readers get can almost understand the characters personality. Hyde as being a sneaky person who actually hides from people and Jekyll as an icicle because he is almost portrayed as different forms, just like water.

Another symbol in this book would be the letters that Dr. Jekyll and/or Mr. Hyde write. I would think these are symbols because they almost describe the changes that Dr. Jekyll is going through. He starts realizing that he is becoming weaker and Hyde is becoming stronger. So he writes the letters so someone can try and help him. Eventually the letters don't do much and Jekyll commits suicide, but the letters help his friends understand what he was doing.

The biggest theme in this story would have to be Good versus Evil. This would be the biggest theme because it is basically what the whole book is about. Dr. Jekyll represents the good in the story and Mr. Hyde represents the the evil, duh. But even more important is that it shows how each has a role in each other. For evil to be created, it must be created by a good side, Jekyll making the potion. It also shows how, if given enough time, the evil can take over and run free, Hyde controlling Jekyll.