Biography, Characters, Context, Themes, and Synopsis

Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh to a middle class family. After gaining a degree in law, he went to France to pursue a career in writing. His first works were about his travels all over Europe, in France, and eventually to America to marry his wife, Fanny. He continued to travel all his life, using the places he went as inspiration and settings for his works. Stevenson went through several phases and genres during his career. He began writing accounts of his travels. Then, he transitioned to short stories. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde falls under this category as a long short story. Stevenson also dabbled in children’s stories, novels, and romances, creating a well rounded portfolio. He ended his life in Samoa, where he died, leaving many works unfinished. After his death and up until World War I, he was seen as an excellent and important author, especially on the British Isles. However, with the rise of new writing philosophies, his work was pushed to the background in favor of newer ideas.
Mr. Utterson - a well respected lawyer in London. He is very loyal and will never break a promise. He is a good friend of both Dr. Lanyon and Dr. Jekyll and represents both men legally, holding both of their wills. He is also the cousin of Mr. Enfield.
Mr. Enfield - a well respected lawyer in London. He tends to dig a little into situations, but also respects others’ wishes. He is the cousin of Mr. Utterson.
Mr. Hyde - a generally unlikeable man who seems to have no friends, save Dr. Jekyll. He is of short stature and is said to be deformed in some way and sends chills down the spine of everyone who sees him. He is the embodiment of the evil inherently present in Dr. Jekyll.
Mr. Poole - Dr. Jekyll’s servant. He is a...

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...rance - Appearances represent inner morality. For instance, Mr. Hyde’s deformed appearance represents his evil nature.
The book begins with a strange tale. A man runs over a little girl, seemingly with no remorse. To pay the family for the damages, he cashes a check written in the name of a well respected doctor. This is the first encounter the reader has with Mr. Hyde. As Mr. Utterson, a well respected lawyer, hears the tale from his cousin, Mr. Enfield, who witnessed the incident, he realizes he knows who the check was from - his client and close friend, Dr. Jekyll. As Mr. Utterson investigates the connection between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it becomes clear something is very wrong. After Hyde commits a bone chilling crime, even more suspicion falls on the relationship. Only a series of letters, left in the possession of Mr. Utterson, can set the record straight.