Early Life & Education (1850–1875)

• 1850 – Born 13 November in Edinburgh, Scotland, into a family of lighthouse engineers.
• 1860s – Childhood marked by chronic illness; spends long periods in bed reading adventure stories and travel books.
• 1867–1871 – Studies engineering, then law, at the University of Edinburgh; qualifies for the Scottish bar in 1875 but rarely practices.
• Early 1870s – Begins publishing essays and travel sketches in magazines, developing his literary voice.

This stage grounded Stevenson in Scottish history, seafaring tales, and moral debates, all of which later shaped the atmosphere and ethical conflicts in works like Kidnapped and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Travels, Health & Restless Journeys (1875–1888)

• 1875–1878 – Travels across France and Europe seeking milder climates for his weak lungs; records experiences in travel books such as An Inland Voyage (1878).
• 1879 – Undertakes a difficult journey to the United States to join Fanny Osbourne, later described in The Amateur Emigrant.
• 1880 – Marries Fanny in California; spends time in the American West before returning to Britain.
• 1888 – Sets sail for the South Pacific, visiting Hawaii and other islands in search of better health and new surroundings.

His constant movement and fragile health sharpened his eye for landscape, character, and cultural contrast, feeding the vivid settings and sense of exile that run through his adventure stories and travel narratives.

Major Works & Literary Success (1881–1887)

• 1881–1882 – Serializes Treasure Island in Young Folks magazine; published as a book in 1883, bringing him wide fame.
• 1885 – Releases A Child’s Garden of Verses, reflecting on childhood imagination and illness.
• 1886 – Publishes Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, exploring duality and moral conflict in Victorian society.
• 1886 – Issues Kidnapped, set in 18th‑century Scotland, blending history with fast‑paced adventure.

These years transformed Stevenson into a leading Victorian author; his experiments with suspense, psychological depth, and moral ambiguity helped shape modern adventure fiction and early psychological horror.

Final Years in Samoa & Legacy (1889–1894 and Beyond)

• 1889 – Settles in Vailima, Samoa, building a home and becoming involved in local politics and community life.
• 1890–1894 – Writes South Seas tales, essays, and novels such as The Beach of Falesá, drawing on colonial tensions and island cultures.
• 3 December 1894 – Dies suddenly at Vailima and is buried on nearby Mount Vaea, honored by Samoan friends as “Tusitala” (teller of tales).
• 20th–21st centuries – His works remain widely read and adapted, influencing adventure fiction, children’s literature, and modern portrayals of the divided self.

Life in Samoa broadened his global outlook and deepened his critique of empire, leaving a legacy of stories that connect Scottish roots, Victorian anxieties, and Pacific experiences in a distinctive, enduring voice.

1. Plot Structure

The novella follows a mystery structure, slowly revealing the link between the respectable Dr Jekyll and the violent Mr Hyde. It begins with Mr Utterson hearing a disturbing story about Hyde, then builds tension through strange events and clues. The truth is held back until the final chapters, when letters and confessions explain how Jekyll created Hyde and lost control. This delayed revelation keeps readers guessing and mirrors the hidden, secret nature of Jekyll’s experiment.

2. Characters

Dr Henry Jekyll is a respected, generous doctor who secretly struggles with darker desires. Mr Edward Hyde is the physical form of Jekyll’s repressed side: smaller, cruel, and frightening to others. Mr Utterson, the lawyer, is calm, rational, and acts as the reader’s guide through the mystery. Other characters, like Dr Lanyon and Mr Enfield, represent respectable Victorian society reacting with horror to Hyde. Together, they show the contrast between public respectability and private sin.

3. Narrative Point of View

Most of the story is told in third person, following Mr Utterson as he investigates the mystery. This limited viewpoint means we only know what Utterson knows, which creates suspense and confusion. In the final chapters, the narrative shifts to first-person documents: Dr Lanyon’s narrative and Dr Jekyll’s full statement. These confessions finally reveal the truth behind Hyde’s identity and Jekyll’s experiment. The mix of viewpoints makes the story feel like a case file being pieced together.

4. Setting

The novella is set in Victorian London, a city of fog, narrow streets, and hidden doorways. Respectable houses stand next to dark alleys and shabby buildings, reflecting the contrast between public respectability and private corruption. Jekyll’s house itself is divided: a grand front entrance and a neglected back door used by Hyde. The gloomy, misty atmosphere creates a sense of secrecy and danger, suggesting that evil can hide behind any respectable façade in the city.

5. Themes

The novella explores several major themes. The duality of human nature suggests that every person has both good and evil within them. Repression shows how strict social rules force people to hide their desires, which can make those desires more dangerous. Science versus morality questions whether scientific progress should have limits. Appearance versus reality highlights how people and places can look respectable while hiding corruption. These themes work together to criticize the hypocrisy of Victorian society.

6. Symbols

Jekyll’s potion symbolizes the dangerous power of science to change human nature. The locked doors and sealed letters represent secrets, repression, and hidden truths. London’s fog stands for confusion and moral uncertainty, making it hard to see what is really happening. Jekyll’s house, with its divided front and back, symbolizes his split identity. Even Hyde’s smaller, deformed body is symbolic: he is the shrunk, concentrated form of Jekyll’s worst impulses, made visible.

7. Style and Language

Stevenson uses formal, sometimes complex Victorian language, reflecting the educated, professional characters. The tone is often serious and tense, with detailed descriptions of streets, rooms, and facial expressions to build atmosphere. He uses hints and suggestions rather than clear explanations at first, which creates mystery. Legal and scientific terms give the story a realistic, case-like feel. At key moments, the language becomes more emotional and dramatic, especially in Jekyll’s confession, showing his inner torment.

8. Genre and Atmosphere

The novella blends several genres: it is a Gothic tale, a mystery, and an early psychological horror story. Gothic elements include dark streets, strange experiments, and a sense of dread. The mystery genre appears in Utterson’s investigation and the gradual uncovering of clues. Psychological horror comes from exploring the mind, guilt, and the fear of losing control of oneself. The overall atmosphere is eerie, tense, and unsettling, making readers question how well they know themselves and others.