My enjoyment of the title story in this collection was a little dulled by my overfamiliarity with the plot. This was my first reading of the actual novella as written by Stevenson though, and I really did enjoy his use of language and structure. I'm sure if I'd come to it fresh I would have enjoyed it so much more.

As for the other stories in the collection I particularly enjoyed 'The Merry Men' and 'Olalla'. Two very different stories, but both very well written and filled with marvelous gothic tension. ( )

I really quite enjoyed the brooding gloom and moral concerns of this story - encapsulating what I think of as the best of the gothic: emotional excess accompanied by the most stringent moral societal norms. In a way, it's a pity that the story is so well known... there's no mystery any more about this strange degenerate Hyde, and why he holds the virtuous citizen Dr Jekyll in his blackmailing thrall!

There were quite a few parallels with Frankenstein, which I was just teaching not that long ago, but it was interesting to contrast Jekyll's motivations for his scientific endeavours, with Frankenstein's. But I realise it would be a spoiler to say any more, so my recommendation: read them both for yourself! ( )

I’ve listened to this book via the ‘CraftLit’ Podcast over the past couple of months. I last read it at University so it’s been a while. I’m sure the ending was different so I’m wondering if Mr Stevenson wrote to conclusions? That said, with the very creepy ending I recall, I wouldn’t have chosen to reread it but I’m quite pleased with the ‘new’ closure.

This is the first CraftLit book I’ve heard all the way through and I was very impressed with Heather Ordover’s analysis of the text. She allowed me to feel part of an English study group without sounding like the English teachers I remember from my school days. She doesn’t dumb down at all, despite podcasting for the crafty rather than the literary community, but instead explains each point clearly. The whole is peppered with her observations about her life and crafting endeavours and sealed into a very enjoyable whole. Her voice is easy on the ear as was that of Dr Jekyll’s narrator.

Ms Ordover’s tagline is: ‘If your hands are too busy to pick up a book, at least you can turn one on.’ While she is thinking of crafting, I think I’ve found the perfect companion to a spot of housework on a sunny afternoon. ( )

Scary! ( )

Robert Louis Stevenson was a sick man that may explains why he wrote such a book as Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. The story Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is a bout a doctor, Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde who is very sick in the sense that he did evil things (like murder,) was somewhat depressed, and wasn’t very healthy because he did a drug. Stevenson’s health problems caused him to travel a lot in search of warmer climates. He wrote the story when he was sick in bed so that obviously influenced it.



Discussion Questions:

What are prevailing themes in the story of Jekyll and Hyde? In what ways is this story universal?

Once you’ve played with fire, is it easier to burn down the house or to control the urge? Basically is it easier to completely submerge your self in your new found bad interest or control your self and stop it with the wants.

If Dr. Jekyll was to become Mr. Hyde forever then he would be submerging him self in the new interest, if he was to stop become Mr. Hyde then he would be controlling his urges. Everyone has bad wants- From wanting to go to war, to biting you finger nails.

In what genre would you classify this novel—crime, mystery, suspense, thriller . .? What qualities of the novel support your answer?

I think this book would be a mystery, since you do not know very much until the mystery is solved at end an Mr. Utterson receives the letter. It is partly a suspense because you are wondering the entire time who Mr. Hyde is. ( )