Where to start withDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2 versions · originally a book, 1886
Themes: Duality of Man, Good vs. Evil, Moral Corruption, Suppressed Desires, The Unconscious.
Start with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson, 2016) — the book. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde exists in 2 versions across media, beginning as a book in 1886; each is ranked below by what it does best.
A Victorian scientist unleashes his dark alter ego, exposing the sinister duality lurking beneath London's respectable society.
✦ Most fans start here
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2016)
The original novel
✦ Start hereDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson · Book · 2016
The original 1886 book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2016) frames the gothic mystery through lawyer Utterson's uneasy investigation, contrasting luxurious Victorian London with Soho to explore human duality.
1931 film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Rouben Mamoulian · Film · 1931
The 1931 film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde captures the doctor's potion-driven transformation into a monstrous alter ego, highlighted by Fredric March's Academy Award-winning dual performance alongside Muriel Carew and Ivy Pierson.
Common questions
Is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde considered gothic literature?
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is considered a defining book of the gothic literature genre. Set in Victorian London, the novella explores dark themes through lawyer Gabriel John Utterson as he investigates the relationship between Dr. Henry Jekyll and the murderous Edward Hyde.
Was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde published in 1886 or 2016?
The novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was first published in 1886. Although editions appear with a 2016 date, those are modern reprints covering the original text rather than a new version of the Victorian story.
Is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde set in a specific year?
No exact year is given in the text of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The story takes place in Victorian London, contrasting the luxurious, proper neighborhood where Dr. Jekyll lives with Soho, an older area deemed unfit for proper society where Mr. Hyde resides.
Why does Gabriel John Utterson investigate Edward Hyde in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, lawyer Gabriel John Utterson investigates after discovering that his friend Dr. Henry Jekyll named the murderous criminal Edward Hyde as the sole beneficiary of his will. Despite Jekyll's claims that everything is fine, Utterson remains deeply suspicious.