Robert Louis Stevenson published this most famous book in 1886, about three years after Treasure Island. Almost immediately a sensation, the story explores the perils of human nature.
The great Russian writer and Soviet Union gulag survivor Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s famous quote is illustrated in Stevenson’s book:
“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” (Gulag Archipelago)
The book is about a lawyer who seeks to understand a mystery about his friend, Dr. Jekyll, a respected scientist who does not seem to be well, keeps to himself, and has willed his estate to an evil man named Mr. Hyde.
Known as one of the first horror books, it is shocking, and it is a warning to us all.
The court was very cool and a little damp, and full of premature twilight, although the sky, high up overhead, was still bright with sunset. The middle one of the three windows was half-way open; and sitting close beside it, taking the air with an infinite sadness of mien, like some disconsolate prisoner, Utterson saw Dr. Jekyll.
“What! Jekyll!” he cried. “I trust you are better.”
“I am very low, Utterson,” replied the doctor drearily, “very low. It will not last long, thank God.”
“You stay too much indoors,” said the lawyer. “You should be out, whipping up the circulation like Mr. Enfield and me. (This is my cousin—Mr. Enfield—Dr. Jekyll.) Come now; get your hat and take a quick turn with us.”
“You are very good,” sighed the other. “I should like to very much; but no, no, no, it is quite impossible; I dare not. But indeed, Utterson, I am very glad to see you; this is really a great pleasure; I would ask you and Mr. Enfield up, but the place is really not fit.”
“Why, then,” said the lawyer, good-naturedly, “the best thing we can do is to stay down here and speak with you from where we are.”
“That is just what I was about to venture to propose,” returned the doctor with a smile. But the words were hardly uttered, before the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below. They saw it but for a glimpse for the window was instantly thrust down; but that glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the court without a word. In silence, too, they traversed the by-street; and it was not until they had come into a neighbouring thoroughfare, where even upon a Sunday there were still some stirrings of life, that Mr. Utterson at last turned and looked at his companion. They were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes.
“God forgive us, God forgive us,” said Mr. Utterson.
But Mr. Enfield only nodded his head very seriously, and walked on once more in silence.
Jekyll thought he could rid himself of Hyde, then he thought Hyde could be managed, but he had no idea how bad he was.
Stevenson does the reader a service by helping him or her adopt the old Socratic maxim–know thyself–which was intended to make one truly wise.
As an aid to learning, I recommend Timothy Keller’s message which puts the book in context. (Keller was a best-selling author, and pastor.)
A free version of the book can be downloaded on Project Gutenberg.
