Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde PDF

Robert Louis Stevenson: Life and Works

Page 1: Biography

• Early Life

  • Born on November 13, 1850, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

  • Family background: middle-class Presbyterians.

    • Mother: Margaret Isabella Balfour, daughter of a minister.

    • Father: Thomas Stevenson, an engineer and strict disciplinarian.

  • Health issues: sickly child, taught at home by tutors and nannies.

  • Influenced by his nurse, Alison Cunningham, who was deeply religious and a storyteller.

• Education and Rebellion

  • Enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1867.

  • Adopted a Bohemian lifestyle, shocking his parents.

  • Declared himself a socialist and agnostic, abandoning engineering for law.

  • Completed a law degree in 1875 but never practiced.

• Health and Travel

  • Developed a respiratory illness in 1873, prompting travel for health.

  • Wrote travel literature, including An Inland Voyage (1878) and Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes (1879).

Page 2: Personal Life

• Marriage and Family

  • Fell in love with Fanny Vandegrift Osbourne, an American writer.

  • Traveled 6,000 miles to California to be with her; married in 1880.

  • Became a stepfather to her son, Lloyd, and later had a daughter, Belle.

• Literary Success

  • Published Treasure Island (1883) to amuse his family.

  • Produced notable works during his time in Bournemouth, including:

    • A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)

    • Kidnapped (1886)

    • The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886)

  • Achieved fame after a visit to New York in 1887.

Page 3: Later Life and Death

• Life in the South Seas

  • Moved to the South Seas in 1888, eventually buying an estate named Vailima in Samoa.

  • Began writing Weir of Hermiston, an unfinished historical novel.

  • Died on December 3, 1894, from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 44.

  • Buried on Mount Vaea, Samoa.

Page 4: Background: The Victorians

• Victorian Era Overview

  • Named after Queen Victoria (1837-1901), characterized by diligence and propriety.

  • Era of prosperity and technological advancement in Britain.

  • Contrasting social conditions: wealth for the middle class vs. poverty for the working class.

• Social Hypocrisy

  • Middle and upper classes often ignored the suffering of the poor.

  • The "Victorian compromise" led to double lives among the elite.

  • Themes of duality reflected in literature, notably in Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde.

Page 5: Literature of the Era

• Literary Trends

  • Rise in literacy and publication of serials.

  • Popular genres included crime, detective fiction, and gothic novels.

  • Notable authors: Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot.

Page 6: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

• Inspiration for the Novel

  • Dreamed of the story's scenes, focusing on humanity's dual nature.

  • Influenced by historical figures like William Brodie and Eugene Chantrelle.

• Setting

  • Set in London, reflecting contrasts between wealth and poverty.

  • Major scenes occur at night, emphasizing darkness and mystery.

Page 8: Genre

• Multi-Genre Elements

  • Victorian novel with gothic horror and psychological themes.

  • Elements of science fiction and crime fiction.

  • Explores themes of duality, repression, and addiction.

Page 9: Structure and Narration

• Innovative Narrative Style

  • Non-linear structure, beginning with Mr. Utterson's perspective.

  • Third-person narration with interruptions from letters and reports.

  • Climactic revelations about Jekyll and Hyde's connection.

Page 10: Themes

• Key Themes

  • Duality: Jekyll as a complex character embodying good and evil.

  • Repression: Jekyll's struggle with his darker impulses.

  • Science and Law: Jekyll's scientific pursuits lead to moral consequences.

  • Addiction: Jekyll's transformation into Hyde as a metaphor for addiction.

Page 12: Symbolism and Imagery

• Symbolic Elements

  • Doors, windows, and keys symbolize communication barriers.

  • The laboratory represents Jekyll's hidden self and moral conflict.

  • Natural elements like fog symbolize mystery and darkness.

Page 14: Characters

• Main Characters

  • Henry Jekyll: A respectable doctor with a hidden darker side.

  • Edward Hyde: Jekyll's evil alter ego, representing instinct and immorality.

  • Gabriel John Utterson: The rational lawyer and friend of Jekyll, central to the mystery.

Page 16: Style

• Literary Techniques

  • Use of allusion to works like Macbeth and biblical references.

  • Sensory details create vivid imagery and suspense.

  • Psychological realism contrasts with the idealized portrayal of characters.

Page 17: Legacy

• Cultural Impact

  • Adapted for stage and film numerous times since publication.

  • The term "Jekyll and Hyde" has entered common language to describe duality in personality.

  • Continues to resonate with themes of self-identity and