Robert Louis Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novella by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson first published in 1886. The work is commonly known today as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or simply Jekyll & Hyde. Gabriel John Utterson, a lawyer, is on his weekly walk with his cousin, Richard Enfield. They reach a door leading into a rather large house, and Enfield tells Utterson of an encounter he had some months ago between a man and a young girl. The man, a sinister figure named Edward Hyde, and the young girl accidentally bump into one another, but Hyde proceeds to trample her. Enfield chases after Hyde and forces Hyde to pay £100 to avoid a scandal for his behaviour. Hyde leads them to this door, which he enters and re-emerges with £10 in gold and a cheque for the rest. The cheque is signed a reputable gentleman, later revealed to be Dr. Henry Jekyll, one of Utterson's clients and old friends.) Jekyll had recently so drafted his will as to make Hyde the sole beneficiary in case of his death or-much to Utterson's discomfort-his disappearance for more than three months. This development concerns and disturbs Utterson, who tries to seek out Hyde, fearing that Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll. When he finally meets Hyde, the latter's ugliness, as if deformed, amazes Utterson. Although Utterson cannot say exactly how or why, Hyde provokes an instinctive feeling of revulsion in him. Much to Utterson's surprise, Hyde willingly offers Utterson his address. After one of Jekyll's dinner parties, Utterson stays behind to discuss the matter of Hyde with Jekyll. This causes Jekyll to turn pale, but Jekyll assures Utterson that everything involving Hyde is in order and that Hyde should be left alone.