The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde A-4

Rick Smith
A-4
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
238
Rating:****

Recommendations: This book is for those who love their good old classic mystery. It might also interest people who feel like they have two alter personalities. It shows the conflict of a man who can't decide whether to lead a respectful life, or to submit to his evil indulgences. Meanwhile, a lawyer and some friends of Jekyll's try to figure out the mysterious connection between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Summary: The story enters on two men, Mr. Utterson and his cousin Mr. Enfield. They are on their Sunday stroll when Enfield tell him a story of what happened on a familiar corner. He tells of a young girl skipping down the street and a dark creature emerging to the same corner going opposite directions, not aware of each other. The two collide at the corner and after the initial collision, the dark creature proceeds to stomp on the young girl. They come to find the dark creature is Mr. Hyde, and is somehow connected to their friend Dr. Jekyll. Utterson finds that in the event of Jekyll's death, Hyde would inherit everything. Utterson never knowing Hyde, was confused at why Jekyll would choose to do that. A while later, Hyde murders a member of parliament which now brings attention back to him. We find that this member of parliament has had conflicts with Jekyll. Utterson goes to talk with Jekyll, but he his not allowing any visitors. After the death of Dr. Lanyon, another friend. Utterson now has non wavering motivation to get to the bottom of this. He goes to visit Jekyll again who is still not wanting visitors. After talking to Jekyll through the wall, he realizes that it is not Jekyll speaking back to him. Utterson and Jekyll's butler Mr. Poole break down the laboratory doors to find Mr. Hyde, who had not been seen since the murder, lying on the ground appearing dead. Utterson finds a letter on the desk addressed to him. He opens to find a letter from Lanyon, and Dr. Jekyll. He reads Lanyons letter that says he has seen Mr. Hyde transfrom back to Dr. Jekyll. He died not too long after. Utterson now knows that Jekyll and Hyde are one in the same. He then reads Jykell's letter that says that from his birth he has had two alter personalities. Through his scientific work, he was able to split the two, living the respectable Dr. Jekyll lifestyle, and also being able to live as Mr. Hyde, where he could do the sinister things he has always desired to do. After he changes to Mr. Hyde without the potion and kills the parliament member, Jekyll realizes he can become Hyde no more. Unfortunately, Jekyll has run out of the salt that can keep him from becoming Hyde spontaneously. Knowing that, he writes one final letter to Utterson, and creates a potion that will kill himself.

Explanation of Rating: I gave this book 4 stars, because I thought it was a very interesting and grabbing book. I had been told the story of Jekyll and Hyde many times before, but had never read the book. I liked the book just as much as I liked to story I had been told over and over. The conflict Dr. Jekyll has with releasing Mr. Hyde is very interesting to read. Everyone has been faced with this conflict of whether to choose good or evil, and readers who have been in that situation can see how Dr. Jekyll handles it, which really isn't very good, but they can still see. It is also a great mystery. Those who don't know the story, and don't know that Jekyll and Hyde are the same will be questioning themselves throughout the entire book.

Favorite Passage: "...there stood Henry Jekyll." This is part of Lanyon's letter that Utterson reads. Lanyon tell about how he saw Mr. Hyde tranform into Dr. Jekyll. We as readers, and Utterson finally find out that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person.