Aug 04 2022 98 mins 3
In Episode 12, Alex and Steven explore the horror classic "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by R.L. Stevenson. Topics discussed include: why is this novel so iconic?; in what ways might the typical reaction to Hyde reveal the nature of evil?; how can we understand the narrator, Utterson, from a psychological point of view?; how might Jekyll have dealt with his conflicts in a more constructive fashion and are there problems with his dividing the psyche into good and evil?; and finally, what might be the problems with viewing human nature as subject to irreconcilable conflicts between good and evil?
Further Resources:
- Copies of the novel in paperback and kindle versions can be found on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strange-Jekyll-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199536228/ref=sr_1_15?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1659531446&refinements=p_28%3Adr+jekyll+and+mr+hyde&s=books&sr=1-15&unfiltered=1
- The best film adaptation stars the peerless Fredric March who won an Oscar for his portrayal in the early thirties. The DVD can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jekyll-Hyde-1931-1941-DVD/dp/B0001EYSWQ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=jekyll+and+hyde&qid=1659531980&s=dvd&sr=1-3. Clips from the movie can also be viewed on YouTube, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUsdTgfokdo.
- A fascinating student thesis on the possible homosexual dimensions of the tale can be found here: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2537&context=honorstheses
- Stephen King's discussion of horror fiction in general and of "Jekyll and Hyde" in his book "Danse Macabre" can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Danse-Macabre-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B003BVFZ96/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1659532332&refinements=p_28%3Adanse+macabre&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
- A good documentary by Professor Christopher Frayling on the novel can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b04aSxzD4Xo
