The case of the alter-ego (Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson)

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
Date:	10/09/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A memorable story

Disadvantages: The writing style

Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde is one of the books that I have to read for my University course and so wanting to get a little bit ahead and not be swamped by reading when I return next month I decided to read it over the summer holiday.

I thought before I read the book that I already knew the story of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde but when I began reading it I realised that I only really knew the outline and that the actual story was a little bit different to what I expected. I must also say though that what I did end up reading actually disappointed me a little bit because I expected the tale to be much more dramatic than it actually was. I also was under the impression, before picking it up, that the book was written in one long narrative, which isn't the case. The book is actually split into chapters, which are written from different viewpoints or compiled from different people's writings of the events.

The Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde novel tells us the tale of a respected medical man, Dr Jekyl and how his lawyer also his friend, after reading a strange note in his will, realises that all isn't right in the man's world. Determined to find out what is going on and whom the mystery Mr Hyde named in the will actually is he does a little digging of his own. What he discovers however will shock him to the core and the fated Dr Jekyl and his troublesome and ever controlling alter-ego will ultimately turn out not to be the novels only casualty.

The plot as you can probably see is relatively simple and to be perfectly honest the novel itself is very easy to read. My issue with it therefore does not lie in its complexity or my inability to work out what it's all about, but more with the fact that it reads a little bit confused. Now I don't mean confused as in you struggle to work out who is who but more in terms of the fact that the change of narrator and narration style can make the tale being told seem rather jumbled up.

For me personally this really ruined what could have been a fantastic novel. I know that many people will disagree with me and say that the novel is fantastic and that its longevity in the public mind testifies to this. I won't disagree with the fact that something about the novel intrigues and endears and therefore is bound to capture the hearts and minds of those that hear about it and definitely those that read it. I for one will not forget the story in a hurry because of the way the book is frequently found in popular culture. I do though think that had the book been written in a more linear narrative form then the impact of the story would in reality have been greater and the lasting impression of the book far stronger than it is.

There is in my mind nothing really wrong with the story that is told within the novel. It is different and interesting and subsequently therefore inviting to the reader but the way it has actually been constructed doesn't do what is being told a great deal of justice in my opinion. I would however still recommend the novel to people because I think that it is a good introduction to classic novels because of how well most people already know the story and also how easy it is to read and digest.

All in all the novel is a memorable one that is worth reading but I would by no means say that it is one of the best classics as the story could have been told far better in my opinion.

Summary: A story that could have been so much better