The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hydeand Mr Hyde

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Robert Louis StevensonRobert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis StevensonRobert Louis Stevenson ‘All human beings are commingled ‘All human beings are commingled

out of good and evil.’out of good and evil.’ Born 1850 in Edinburgh of Thomas Stevenson, an Born 1850 in Edinburgh of Thomas Stevenson, an engineer who build many of our deep-sea engineer who build many of our deep-sea lighthouses and Isabella Mary Balfour, whose family lighthouses and Isabella Mary Balfour, whose family contained members of the legal profession and contained members of the legal profession and ministers of the Church.ministers of the Church.

Brought up to conform to the strict Victorian Middle Brought up to conform to the strict Victorian Middle Class code of respectabilityClass code of respectability

Childhood illnesses meant most of his early years Childhood illnesses meant most of his early years were spent in his bedroom at home where Nurse were spent in his bedroom at home where Nurse Cunningham (Cummy) laboured to teach him the Cunningham (Cummy) laboured to teach him the difference between pursuing a life of good or evil by difference between pursuing a life of good or evil by describing at great lengths the everlasting torments describing at great lengths the everlasting torments of hell resulting from selecting the evil choice – of hell resulting from selecting the evil choice – unsurprisingly Robert suffered terrible nightmares. unsurprisingly Robert suffered terrible nightmares.

Nurse Cunningham tried to convince him ‘there are Nurse Cunningham tried to convince him ‘there are but two camps in the world – one perfectly pious but two camps in the world – one perfectly pious and respectable, one of the perfectly profane, and respectable, one of the perfectly profane, mundane and vicious.’ – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde mundane and vicious.’ – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde refutes this simplistic view and argues that there is refutes this simplistic view and argues that there is light and dark in all of us – ‘man is not truly one but light and dark in all of us – ‘man is not truly one but truly two’ (Jekyll) truly two’ (Jekyll)

Life Imitates Art?Life Imitates Art? Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh, a city Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh, a city

with two faces, and although Dr Jekyll with two faces, and although Dr Jekyll appears to be set in London, there are appears to be set in London, there are many reasons Edinburgh could also be many reasons Edinburgh could also be viewed as an appropriate setting.viewed as an appropriate setting.

At seventeen, whilst studying At seventeen, whilst studying Engineering at University, Robert would Engineering at University, Robert would spend a great deal of time in spend a great deal of time in Edinburgh’s notorious Old Town and it Edinburgh’s notorious Old Town and it has been argued that he, like Jekyll, was has been argued that he, like Jekyll, was leading a double life – respectable leading a double life – respectable middle class student by day and middle class student by day and debauchery by night. However, debauchery by night. However, Stevenson witnessed enough middle Stevenson witnessed enough middle class double standards that he was class double standards that he was determined to avoid such hypocrisy and determined to avoid such hypocrisy and he reacted against the strict Scottish he reacted against the strict Scottish Presbyterian background of his Presbyterian background of his upbringing. upbringing.

Other famous publicationsOther famous publications

‘‘A Child’s Garden of Verse’ – A Child’s Garden of Verse’ – dedicated to Nurse Cummydedicated to Nurse Cummy

‘‘The Master of Ballantrae’The Master of Ballantrae’ ‘‘Kidnapped’Kidnapped’ ‘‘Treasure Island’Treasure Island’ ‘‘Catriona’Catriona’ ‘‘Deacon Brodie, or The Double Life’ - Deacon Brodie, or The Double Life’ -

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Victorian EdinburghVictorian Edinburgh

Old TownOld Town DirtyDirty Disease riddenDisease ridden OvercrowdedOvercrowded Full of PovertyFull of Poverty

New TownNew Town ProsperousProsperous Middle classMiddle class CleanClean OrderedOrdered

A city with a pastA city with a past

William ‘Deacon’ Brodie – well William ‘Deacon’ Brodie – well respected craftsman by day, criminal respected craftsman by day, criminal by night – hanged in 1788. In his by night – hanged in 1788. In his childhood bedroom, Robert Louis had childhood bedroom, Robert Louis had a cabinet made by William Brodiea cabinet made by William Brodie

Burke and Hare, the ‘body snatchers’Burke and Hare, the ‘body snatchers’

Timeline of Significant EventsTimeline of Significant Events

1818thth century century Age of Enlightenment – freedom, democracy and Age of Enlightenment – freedom, democracy and reasonreason

18181818 Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ 18241824 James Hogg’s ‘Confessions of a Justified Sinner’James Hogg’s ‘Confessions of a Justified Sinner’ 18501850 RLS born in EdinburghRLS born in Edinburgh 18591859 Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ 18721872 RLS quarrels seriously with father over religion RLS quarrels seriously with father over religion

and and moralsmorals 18841884 RLS publishes short story ‘The Body Snatcher’RLS publishes short story ‘The Body Snatcher’ 18851885 French neurologist gives public display of French neurologist gives public display of

hypnotismhypnotism 18851885 RLS writes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ RLS writes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 18861886 Krafft-Ebing’s ‘Psychopathia Sexualis’, RLS Krafft-Ebing’s ‘Psychopathia Sexualis’, RLS

publishes publishes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 18881888 Jack the Ripper murders take place in the East EndJack the Ripper murders take place in the East End 18911891 Oscar Wilde’s ‘Dorian Gray’Oscar Wilde’s ‘Dorian Gray’ 19011901 Freud’s ‘Interpretation of Dreams’Freud’s ‘Interpretation of Dreams’

Echoes through the AgesEchoes through the Ages