This essay examines Stevenson’s 1886 Victorian novella through the lens of duality, a central theme in gothic literature. The author explores how the text presents conflict between good and evil across moral, religious, scientific, and narrative dimensions, drawing parallels to Frankenstein and referencing the doppelgänger trope common to gothic tradition. The analysis focuses particularly on the underexplored duality of house versus home, beginning with the sinister architecture that frames the narrative when Mr Enfield recounts his encounter with the mysterious Mr Hyde to Mr Utterson. The essay positions the novella within gothic genealogy rooted in architectural imagery and examines how Stevenson constructs monstrosity through the dual nature of Jekyll’s persona, illustrating the gothic obsession with the blurred boundary between man and monster.
Original article published on Generally Gothic — AI-generated summary.
