Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Book Review

Texts that are able to immerse the reader into a setting and allow them to engage with the plot are of the highest quality. With the application of novel conventions throughout their piece, authors produce texts that explore the atmosphere revolving around the emotions of the characters to convey meanings. ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ written by Robert Louis Stevenson is a mystery genre text that explores the setting of a gothic London. Through the use of gothic conventions to establish a setting, literary devices, and dissimilar perspectives, readers are able to watch the mystery unfold. This novel effectively engages its audience by allowing them to relate aspects in the text to their contemporary world and putting emphasis on concepts that are essential to the plot. ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ immerses readers by the usage of typical gothic features in order to inflict emotion.

Making connections between the real world and the novel piques the reader’s interest. As they follow the plot of a story, emphasis is given to multiple concepts that may be labeled as controversial such as good vs evil. “That child of hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred”. Connotation allows the reader to relate something to their contemporary world further piquing their interest in the text. They help the reader associate things with other ideas that relate. Repetition establishes significance onto an idea that the author wants the reader to grasp. ‘Hell’ is a connotation of darkness and can be perceived as punishment for an individual committing sin. The audience is provided insight on how Jekyll’s views have changed regarding Hyde, therefore, impacting how the story has developed. This forms the resolution of the novel as consequently, evil is taking over Jekyll, putting him to an end and slight change is seen. ‘Nothing’ refers to the way Jekyll views Hyde and how Hyde himself feels whilst facing this emotional turmoil. ‘Nothing’ closely correlates with worthlessness referring to Hyde’s moral values. Jekyll is in the process of acceptance of his fate, sustaining the structure of the novel bringing it to its conclusion. The plot of a novel and its effective usage of literary devices touch upon many ideas that keep the reader engaged and involved in the storyline.“It was a night of little ease to his toiling mind, toiling in mere darkness and besieged by questions”. The temporal reference gives the time of a setting. The purpose of this is to show the connection of time to the situation. Descriptive language involves the reader in the plot as it describes the event taking place creating a visual image.

Mentioning that this scene took place during the ‘night’ creates feelings of darkness and uncertainty. This follows the plot as Jekyll is currently contemplating his purpose and is urged to find a solution to satisfying his evil temptations without feeling guilt. Through the application of temporal reference, information is delivered and the reader is provided with the anti-hero’s perspective to further engage them with the story. With this perspective, the development of Jekyll is shown over time as it can be compared to the end of the story when he faces the consequences of his decisions. Time shows the development of a character as the story advances making the reader a part of the character’s journey. Engagement between the reader and a novel highly depends on how it effectively conveys messages through its use of plot. 

The atmosphere that is built up as the plot progresses, reveals meanings behind messages the author is trying to convey as well as the emotions behind events in a story. The setting created in a novel has the ability to manipulate the emotions or feelings that surround a particular circumstance. This could be applying elements of a gothic genre to a text to cause discomfort to the reader.“Street after street and all the folks asleep-street after street, all lighted up as if for a procession and all as empty as a church”. Repetition is used to centralise the main idea the composer wants to convey. Similes are used to help the audience understand a condition something is in using the assistance of another unrelated thing. Connotations produce emotional coalitions which makes something appear as negative or positive. ‘As empty as a church’ implies that the streets were lonely. It gives the reader the impression that the streets of London were dull and seemingly uneventful. This creates an eerie and uncertain feeling, shaping a typical gothic atmosphere. ‘Street after street’ is repeated to show a never-ending cycle. The repetition of words may symbolise dreariness. ‘Procession’ is usually linked to death. The concept of death unsettles the reader and makes them fear. This connotation foreshadows death possibly being present further on in the book. By triggering these emotions out of readers, they instantly are immersed into the text as they are able to visualize what the setting would be like if they were in the book themselves. Any feelings that the text influences the reader to feel hold great importance as it enhances their emotional understanding.“And in spite of the biting weather, took off his hat and mopped his brow with a red pocket-handkerchief”. Personification has the ability to give inanimate things human attributes to represent emotions. Sensory imagery allows the reader to use their five senses to draw deeper thoughts from a text. This can be through elements of tone, character ideas, etc.  The ‘biting’ weather refers to a harsh climate. It allows the readers to feel the bone-chilling conditions that Poole is experiencing, setting the tone of the atmosphere. By way of the tone, the reader expects something to happen. The occurring of something negative is hinted through Poole mopping ‘his brow with a red pocket-handkerchief’ despite the extremely cold temperatures. This foreshadows that something is bound to happen, successfully using fear to immerse the reader into the novel. The red handkerchief also alerts the reader because it correlates with connotations of malice and stress.

Novels that engage and immerse the reader in the story explore a variety of concepts within their plot and setting.

The visible aspects from the contemporary world implemented in ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ let the reader build a strong connection with the novel. The environment that is established in a story inflicts emotions allowing the audience to immerse themselves into the mystery that is trying to be solved.