Gothic Fiction
A recurring idea that shapes Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
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In Victorian London, lawyer Mr. Utterson investigates the connection between his respected friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and the violent Mr. Edward Hyde. After Hyde murders a prominent figure, Utterson's inquiries lead to Jekyll's reclusive behavior and a breakdown with Dr. Lanyon. The truth emerges through two written narratives, revealing a shocking dual identity and the consequences of suppressing one's darker nature.
Mr. Utterson, a reserved and conscientious lawyer, becomes concerned after his cousin Enfield describes an incident: a deformed man named Hyde tramples a child and then enters a door in a by-street, emerging with a check signed by Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respected client of Utterson. Utterson, who holds Jekyll’s unusual will leaving everything to Hyde, suspects blackmail. He confronts Jekyll, who admits his interest in Hyde but refuses to explain, asking Utterson to promise to protect Hyde’s interests. Nearly a year later, Hyde brutally murders Sir Danvers Carew with a cane given to Jekyll. Hyde disappears, and Utterson leads police to his Soho home, but he has fled. Jekyll shows Utterson a letter from Hyde, but Utterson suspects it is a forgery. Jekyll becomes increasingly reclusive, confining himself to his laboratory. Dr. Lanyon, a mutual friend, falls ill after witnessing something and dies, leaving a sealed narrative for Utterson. Utterson also witnesses a terrifying change in Jekyll’s expression at a window. Finally, Jekyll’s butler Poole fears Jekyll has been murdered. They break into the laboratory, finding Hyde dead by suicide and a confession from Jekyll. Lanyon’s narrative and Jekyll’s full statement reveal that Jekyll developed a potion to separate his good and evil selves, transforming into Hyde. Over time, Hyde grew stronger, committing murder and eventually taking over, leading to Jekyll’s tragic end.
The author of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Explore author profileThis work develops its ideas directly rather than through a character-led narrative.
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde belongs to the literary and cultural world of Public-domain literature.
Mr. Utterson, a reserved and conscientious lawyer, becomes concerned after his cousin Enfield describes an incident: a deformed man named Hyde tramples a child and then enters a door in a by-street, emerging with a check signed by Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respected client of Utterson. Utterson, who holds Jekyll’s unusual will leaving everything to Hyde, suspects blackmail. He confronts Jekyll, who admits his interest in Hyde but refuses to explain, asking Utterson to promise to protect Hyde’s interests. Nearly a year later, Hyde brutally murders Sir Danvers Carew with a cane given to Jekyll. Hyde disappears, and Utterson leads police to his Soho home, but he has fled. Jekyll shows Utterson a letter from Hyde, but Utterson suspects it is a forgery. Jekyll becomes increasingly reclusive, confining himself to his laboratory. Dr. Lanyon, a mutual friend, falls ill after witnessing something and dies, leaving a sealed narrative for Utterson. Utterson also witnesses a terrifying change in Jekyll’s expression at a window. Finally, Jekyll’s butler Poole fears Jekyll has been murdered. They break into the laboratory, finding Hyde dead by suicide and a confession from Jekyll. Lanyon’s narrative and Jekyll’s full statement reveal that Jekyll developed a potion to separate his good and evil selves, transforming into Hyde. Over time, Hyde grew stronger, committing murder and eventually taking over, leading to Jekyll’s tragic end.
Begin by following how gothic fiction and psychological fiction shape the work’s central choices.
The novella is considered intermediate reading difficulty. The Victorian prose features formal vocabulary and complex sentence structures. The non-linear narrative, with confessions framed within a detective story, requires careful attention. Themes of psychology and morality are accessible but layered. The story is best suited for readers comfortable with 19th-century literature and willing to engage with its Gothic style.
Yes. The story contains brief descriptions of violence, including a murder (Sir Danvers Carew beaten to death), though not graphically detailed. It uses period-typical language such as ‘dwarfish’ and ‘troglodytic’ that reflect 19th-century attitudes toward physical deformity. There is no sexual content, but implicit references to Hyde's ‘vile life’ and Jekyll's ‘pleasures’ suggest transgressive behavior. The atmosphere is unsettling.
The main themes include the duality of human nature (good and evil within everyone), the Victorian gentleman ideal (self-control vs. hypocrisy), unreliable narration (multiple biased perspectives), the doppelgänger (Hyde as Jekyll's repressed self), and scientific hubris (pursuit of knowledge without ethics). These themes reflect Victorian anxieties about respectability and hidden vices.
The narrative is a detective story told backwards. We follow lawyer Utterson as he investigates the link between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The story unfolds through letters, eyewitness accounts, and a final confession, building suspense. The first eight chapters present the mystery, while the last two (Lanyon's narrative and Jekyll's statement) contain the revelations. This non-linear structure requires careful attention to who knows what when.
Pay attention to Utterson as an unreliable detective—his loyalty affects his judgment. Notice the duality of setting and character: public respectability vs. private transgression, like Jekyll's two doors. Doors, windows, and keys symbolize barriers to knowledge. Also, observe how characters maintain social bonds by keeping secrets and not asking too many questions. The fog and darkness contribute to the Gothic atmosphere.
Source and editorial notice
Public-domain source information is preserved with the published edition. This reading guide was created with AI assistance and reviewed before publication.