Jekyll and Hyde




In 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson published "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."  He was exploiting the 
rising interest in psychoanalytic studies, and also the growing popularity of the theories of Charles Darwin.  
Dr. Jekyll is a brilliant scientist and doctor. He gives up regular practice to devote more time to his unusual 
medical experiments.  One of these experiments goes wrong and he creates, within himself, the character of Mr Hyde.  
So, during the daytime, Dr Jekyll is the likable hardworking scientist; but at night he turns into the evil and 
murderous Mr Hyde.  He has, in fact, created an "alter ego" ¡V an opposite personality within the same body.  
Dr Jekyll eventually discovers a way of separating his two beings.  Jekyll creates a potion that releases 
his evil side, Mr. Hyde. Hyde is shorter and smaller than Jekyll, having not had as much exercise.  In 
the end, though, Hyde murders someone and the only way Jekyll can kill Hyde is by killing himself.
	
(a)  One day he is happy, the next he is sad ¡V he is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde figure.
(b)  We're a perfect match:  he's sad and moody and I'm happy and bubbly.  You could say I'm his alter ego.
(c)  She has such a big ego, doesn't she?
(d)  I like her but she has a bit of a split personality.  
(e)  He looks a bit like a mad scientist.  [This derives from books like Stevenson's and also Mary Shelley's 
Frankenstein.]







Back                                               Home                                                 Next