Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R.L. Stevenson
In Episode 12, Alex and Steven explore the horror classic "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by R.L. Stevenson. Topics discussed include: why is this novel so iconic?; in what ways might the typical reaction to Hyde reveal the nature of evil?; how can we understand the narrator, Utterson, from a psychological point of view?; how might Jekyll have dealt with his conflicts in a more constructive fashion and are there problems with his dividing the psyche into good and evil?; and finally, what might be the problems with viewing human nature as subject to irreconcilable conflicts between good and evil?
Further Resources:
- Copies of the novel in paperback and kindle versions can be found on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strange-Jekyll-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199536228/ref=sr_1_15?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1659531446&refinements=p_28%3Adr+jekyll+and+mr+hyde&s=books&sr=1-15&unfiltered=1
- The best film adaptation stars the peerless Fredric March who won an Oscar for his portrayal in the early thirties. The DVD can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jekyll-Hyde-1931-1941-DVD/dp/B0001EYSWQ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=jekyll+and+hyde&qid=1659531980&s=dvd&sr=1-3. Clips from the movie can also be viewed on YouTube, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUsdTgfokdo.
- A fascinating student thesis on the possible homosexual dimensions of the tale can be found here: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2537&context=honorstheses
- Stephen King's discussion of horror fiction in general and of "Jekyll and Hyde" in his book "Danse Macabre" can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Danse-Macabre-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B003BVFZ96/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1659532332&refinements=p_28%3Adanse+macabre&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
- A good documentary by Professor Christopher Frayling on the novel can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b04aSxzD4Xo