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==Introduction==There are a select number of literary works whose characters have entered the public imagination. One of these is the ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. This work on the nature of good and evil in human nature has spawned countless movies, plays, television shows, comics, and movies. The two main characters have come to represent the duality of human nature and split personalities. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, although written in the 19th century is still as relevant today, as over a century ago. This article discusses the possible sources that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write a great horror story. It will examine the possible literary sources for the classic of the supernatural genre. Then it identifies possible candidates for the real-life characters who inspired Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 1.png|200px250px|thumbthumbnail|left|Jekyll and Hyde book cover]]==The story behind the novel==Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is one of the greatest of all Scottish writers and the author of many memorable works such as ‘Treasure Island’. Stevenson was born and educated in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. He came from a family of prominent engineers and suffered from ill-health all of his life. Despite suffering from bronchial problems all his life, he was a great traveler and wrote a great many works in a short span of years. While still a young man he began to write novels and short stories most of whom were well-received <ref> Balfour, Graham, The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson (London, Signet, 1983), pp 17-18</ref>. Stevenson wrote ‘Treasure Island’ in 1883 and this made him famous. In 1886 he was working on his follow-up. Stevenson had long been obsessed with the conflict in people, between good and evil. For many years he had been seeking to find a story that would allow him to tackle this subject. One day while lying in bed, because of ill-health, he had the idea, after recollecting a dream. Stevenson wrote the ‘Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ in a number of weeks in 1886. Many commentators have claimed that Stevenson was on drugs at the time, such as opium, for his illness <ref>Balfour, p. 121</ref>. Later the Scottish author wrote ‘Kidnapped’, which was another great success. However, his health declined and he moved to Samoa in the South Pacific for the sake of his health, Stevenson died in 1894, in the South Sea island <ref>Barbour, p. 2013</ref>.[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 2.jpg |200px|thumb|left|a 19TH Century poster for a drama based on Jekyll and Hyde]]==The plot of the novel==The novel opens with John Utterson, telling an acquittance of his, the strange story of Dr. Jekyll. A man, Edward Hyde, has run over a child and for some reason, the injured girl’s family were compensated by Dr. Jekyll, a very respected medic. Utterson states that he believes that Hyde is blackmailing the doctor. The following year, Hyde attacks one of Edinburgh’s leading citizens and murders him, in the street. Utterson becomes involved in the case because he is Jekyll’s lawyer and not just his friend. In the doctor’s house, the murder weapon used by Hyde is discovered. Jekyll claims that Hyde has run away and produces a handwritten note, allegedly written by the wanted man<ref>Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (London, Penguin, 1991), p. 13</ref>. The doctor who is also an eminent scientist begins to lock himself away in his laboratory. One day, Utterson who has not seen Jekyll for some time and his servants break into the laboratory. They find Hyde dead and mysteriously dressed in Jekyll’s clothes. A letter is found alongside the body and Utterson takes it home and reads it. This letter was written by Jekyll and he states that he and Mr. Hyde are the same people. In a second letter that had earlier been given to Utterson, Jekyll explains everything <ref>Stevenson, p. 16</ref>. He narrates that he developed a potion, which he hoped to control his evil impulses. He had developed a potion or elixir which he hoped would enable him to control his dark desires and drives. Jekyll transformed himself when he drank the potion and he would transform, into a deranged and sinister figure, by the name of Edward Hyde. It is intimated in the novella that Jekyll when he transformed engaged in unnamed vices and crimes<ref>Stevenson, p. 34</ref>. However, soon, he began to transform involuntarily, without even drinking his concoction. The doctor writes that he knows that Hyde is evil and is the embodiment of his dark side. He believes that he is slowly transforming himself into Mr. Hyde and fears that his alter ego will commit many heinous acts and crimes. The letter suddenly breaks off, this suggests that Jekyll has permanently and irrevocably changed into the evil Hyde. Utterson, speculates that Hyde knew that he would soon be caught, and he committed suicide so that he would not be apprehended and hanged <ref>Stevenson, p. 67</ref>.[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 4.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Robert Louis Stevenson c 1885]]__NOTOC__

==The Gothic tradition==The story and the There are a select number of literary works whose characters are very much influenced by have entered the Gothic horror literary traditionpublic imagination. These are tales One of these is the supernatural ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and they are set in spooky placesMr. Hyde. Certainly, there are many ’ This work on the nature of the motifs of this genre good and evil in the novella. ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll human nature has spawned countless movies, plays, television shows, comics, and Mrmovies. Hyde’ has many The two main characters have come to represent the duality of the themes human nature and motifs of this genresplit personalities. The Gothic explored how humans could become inhumanDr. This can be seen in the transformation of DrJekyll and Mr. JekyllHyde, a respectable member of society, into although written in the sociopath Hyde19th century, who is truly monstrous <ref> John Astill as relevant today as over a century ago. Evil The Shadow Side What are the possible historical figures and literary sources that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write one of Reality (NJ, Crossroad, 1981), p.. 113</ref>. Another theme in Gothic literature is that of the dangers of scientific investigation. This is perhaps seen in Shelley’s, Frankenstein. Drthe greatest horror stories?  ====The story behind the novel====[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 2. jpg |250px|thumbnail|left|a 19TH Century poster for a drama based on Jekyll and Hyde]] Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is in one of the greatest of all Scottish writers and the author of many ways an archetypical ‘mad scientist’ who transgresses by peering into nature’s mysteries memorable works such as ‘Treasure Island.’ Stevenson was born and pays a terrible priceeducated in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. ==Louis Vivet: Multiple Personality==In the midHe came from a family of prominent engineers and suffered from ill-to-late 19th centuryhealth all of his life. Despite suffering from bronchial problems all his life, doctors were beginning to understand the mental processes of the human mind he was a great traveler and wrote a great many works in a short span of years. While still a young man he began to treat mental health as an illness write novels and not as some character flaw or punishment from god. In the 1860s and 1870sshort stories most of whom were well-received.<ref>Balfour, doctors were beginning to develop modern psychiatryGraham, especially in France. There was a great deal of public interest The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson (London, Signet, 1983), pp 17-18</ref>  Stevenson wrote ‘Treasure Island’ in 1883, and this new science and it made him famous. In 1886 he was widely reported working on his follow-up. Stevenson had long been obsessed with the conflict in British newspaperspeople, between good and evil. One case of mental illness that caused For many years he had been seeking to find a sensation at the time, was story that of Louis Vivetwould allow him to tackle this subject. He was One day while lying in bed, because of ill-health, he had the first person to be diagnosed with split or multiple personalitiesidea, known today as dissociative identity disorderafter recollecting a dream. Vivet was born Stevenson wrote the ‘Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ in 1863, to a prostitute number of weeks in Paris, who neglected and abused him1886. He turned to crime  Many commentators have claimed that Stevenson was on drugs at the age of 8 and was sent to a youth prisontime, such as opium, for his illness. When working on a farm he <ref>Balfour, p. 121</ref> Later, the Scottish author wrote ‘Kidnapped,’ which was bitten by a snake and became semi-paralyzed another great success. However, his health declined, and unable he moved to walk. At Samoa in the South Pacific for the timesake of his health, those who were paralyzed were sent to a local asylum. One dayStevenson died in 1894, Vivet begins to walk suddenly and this astonished in the doctorsSouth Sea island. A number of medics interested in psychiatry and placed him under hypnosis, to their amazement, they found that Vivet has multiple personalities<ref>Barbour, p. The Vivet case, with his reported dozen personality, was a topic of much debate in intellectual circles. It appears that Stevenson was aware 2013</ref> ====The plot of the story of the Frenchmannovel====[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 4. It seems that the idea for one personjpg |250px|thumbnail|left|Robert Louis Stevenson c 1885]]The novel opens with John Utterson, telling an acquittance of his, to have two personalities was inspired by the strange story of VivetDr. Jekyll. It was this case that persuaded him to write about the duality in human nature A man, Edward Hyde, has run over a child, and human’s inner strugglefor some reason, as they are torn between good and evilthe injured girl’s family were compensated by Dr. [[File: Jekyll and , a very respected medic. Utterson states that he believes that Hyde 3is blackmailing the doctor.jpg |200px|thumb|left|A modern figure The following year, Hyde attacks one of Deacon Brodie]]==Was Dr. Jekyll Edinburgh’s leading citizens and Mrmurders him in the street. Hyde a Scottish criminal==Edward Hyde Utterson becomes involved in the work by Stevenson case because he is Jekyll’s lawyer and not only just his friend.  In the alter ego of Dr. Jekylldoctor’s house, but he was also the personification of the evil murder weapon used by Hyde is discovered. Jekyll claims that lurks in every human. Hyde was not just has run away and produces a symbol he was based on a real-life figurehandwritten note, allegedly written by the wanted man.<ref>Stevenson, namely William BrodieRobert Louis. He was an infamous criminal The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and a clergyman and the young Robert Louis Stevenson was familiar with the story of his life and crimesMr. William BrodieHyde (London, Penguin, known as Deacon Brodie1991), was from one of the most p. 13</ref> The doctor who is also an eminent families scientist begins to lock himself away in Edinburghhis laboratory. His family was one of One day, Utterson, who has not seen Jekyll for some time and his servants break into the wealthiest laboratory. They find Hyde dead and esteemed mysteriously dressed in Jekyll’s clothes. A letter is found alongside the Scottish capital body, and Utterson takes it home and several Brodie’s had served in the City Councilreads it. Brodie was apprenticed to a cabinet maker Jekyll wrote this letter, and later established himself in business in he stated that he and Mr. Hyde are the mid-eighteenth centurysame people. He made cabinets and also fitted locks for some of Edinburgh’s leading families In a second letter that had earlier been given to Utterson, Jekyll explains everything. However<ref>Stevenson, Brodie led p. 16</ref> He narrates that he developed a secret lifepotion, and which he was addicted hoped to gambling and control his evil impulses. He had developed a secret lover<ref> Gibsonpotion or elixir, John Sibbald Deacon Brodie: Father which he hoped would enable him to Jekyll control his dark desires and Hyde (Edinburgdrives. Jekyll transformed himself when he drank the potion, Saltire Societyand he would change, 1997)into a deranged and sinister figure, pby the name of Edward Hyde. In the novella where Jekyll transformed engaged in unnamed vices and crimes. 12<ref>Stevenson, p. 34</ref>. In order  However, soon, he began to support his lifestyletransform involuntarily, he used without even drinking his locksmith skills to burglarize concoction. The doctor writes that he knows that Hyde is evil and is the homes embodiment of the wealthyhis dark side. It He believes that he is believed that Brodie robbed houses for 20 years until slowly transforming himself into Mr. Hyde and fears that he was captured alter ego will commit many heinous acts and publicly hangedcrimes. He successfully kept his double-life a secret for twenty years. Brodie was possibly a model for both Jekyll The letter suddenly breaks off; this break suggested that Jekyll has permanently and irrevocably changed into the evil Hyde. His double-life was similar to the one Jekyll led Utterson, speculates that Hyde knew that he would soon be caught, and his crimes such as burglary he committed suicide so that he would not be apprehended and theft are similar to those committed by Hyde in the novellahanged. Stevenson was fascinated by Brodie, even though he had been hanged in the gallows many years before he was born <ref>GibsonStevenson, p. 1367</ref> ====The Gothic tradition====The Gothic horror literary tradition very much influences the story and its characters. Apparently, These are tales of the supernatural, and they are set in spooky places. Certainly, there was a cabinet made by are many of the burglar motifs of this genre in his family home the novella. ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and he wrote a play based on Mr. Hyde’ has many of the criminal while a teenager. themes and motifs of this genre. The Gothic explored how humans could become inhuman. This theme is considered by some to be an early draft present in the transformation of what would become the ‘Strange Case of DrDr. Jekyll and Mr, a respectable member of society, into the sociopath Hyde, who is truly monstrous. Hyde’. ==<ref> John A French Jekyll==Stevenson got the name Jekyll from Reverend Walter Jekyll, a friend of Stevenson. He was a very respectable figure in EdinburghEvil The Shadow Side of Reality (NJ, Crossroad, 1981), p. However, another friend of his youth appears to have at least partly inspired . 113</ref> Another theme in Gothic literature is that of the character dangers of Jekyllscientific investigation. In his youthThis is also present in Shelley’s Frankenstein. Dr. Jekyll is, in many ways, Stevenson became the friend of a former medical student and a French language teacher. It appears that the two were introduced an archetypical ‘mad scientist’ who transgresses by the former teacher of Stevenson. Chantrelle was peering into nature’s mysteries and pays a charismatic and charming figure and something of a ladies manterrible price. The future author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island, apparently liked to practice his French with Chantrelle, over drinks ====Louis Vivet: Multiple Personality====[[File: Jekyll and Hyde 3. In reality, jpg |250px|thumb|left|A modern figure of Deacon Brodie]] In the Scottish authormid-to-late 19th century, know, that he was having a good time with a devil. Chantrelle was a sexual predator doctors were beginning to understand the mental processes of the human mind and possibly a serial killerbegan to treat mental health as an illness and not as some character flaw or punishment from god. The Frenchman was arrested for In the murder of his wife <ref>Bradley1860s and 1870s, doctors were beginning to develop modern psychiatry, Jane especially in France. Real-life Jekyll & Hyde who inspired Stevenson’s classicThere was a great deal of public interest in this new science, The Scotsman, 25 November 2016, pand it was widely reported in British newspapers. 4</ref>She One case of mental illness that caused a sensation at the time was only a naïve 16-year-old girl from Edinburgh when she that of Louis Vivet.  Vivet was introduced and fell in love the first person to be diagnosed with the French charmer. However, after their marriagesplit or multiple personalities, he abused her horribly and later coldly murdered her, for moneyknown today as dissociative identity disorder. At the trialVivet was born in 1863, to a prostitute in Paris, it emerged that Chantrelle had been preying on young women for yearswho neglected and abused him. It appears that he also may have poisoned some He turned to crime at the age of 8 and many may have died as was sent to a result<ref>Bradleyyouth prison. When working on a farm, phe was bitten by a snake and became semi-paralyzed and unable to walk. 4</ref>. The trialAt the time, which Stevenson attended caused those who were paralyzed were sent to a sensation at the timelocal asylum. The young author was surprised One day, Vivet begins to walk suddenly, and later profoundly shocked by this astonished the discovery that he had been a friend doctors. A number of a monster. Stevenson became preoccupied with the two-fold nature of people, who could be inexplicably evil medics interested in psychiatry and yet also decentplaced him under hypnosis, after the trial of Chantrelleto their amazement, they found that Vivet has multiple personalities. This theme of the double nature  The Vivet case, with his reported dozen personality, was a topic of humanity is one of the most important much debate in his novella of 1883intellectual circles. Chantrelle It appears that Stevenson was hanged in Edinburgh in 1878aware of Vivet's story.==Conclusion==Jekyll and Hyde is a great It seems that the story, at once a classic of Vivet inspired the horror genre and also a thrilleridea for one person to have two personalities. The story of It was this case that persuaded him to write about the apparently respectable doctor duality in human nature and his alter ego tells us something about our inner nature. Naturallystruggle, the story is only as they are torn between good and evil.  ====Was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde a Scottish criminal====Edward Hyde, in the work of fictionby Stevenson, but it is rooted in historical factnot only the alter ego of Dr. Stevenson Jekyll, but he was clearly influenced by also the emerging science personification of psychiatry and especially the case of Vivatthe evil that lurks in every human. Then Hyde was not just a symbol; he had was based on a real-life-long obsession with the life and crimes of Deacon figure, namely William Brodie. He was an infamous criminal and a perfect example of the duality of the human conditionclergyman, at one respectable and moral, at other times malign the young Robert Louis Stevenson was familiar with the story of his life and darkcrimes. The double life of the Edinburgh cabinet maker William Brodie, known as Deacon Brodie, undoubtedly, influenced was from one of the Scottish author, most eminent families in Edinburgh. His family was one of the creation of both Hyde wealthiest and esteemed in the Scottish capital, and Jekyllseveral Brodie’s had served in the City Council. Stevenson appears Brodie was apprenticed to have been a cabinet maker and later established himself in business in the mid-eighteenth century. He made cabinets and also fitted locks for some of Edinburgh’s leading families.  However, Brodie led a secret life. He was addicted to gambling and had a secret lover.<ref> Gibson, John Sibbald Deacon Brodie: Father to Jekyll and Hyde (Edinburg, Saltire Society, 1997), p. 12</ref> To support his lifestyle, he used his locksmith skills to burglarize the homes of the wealthy. It is believed that Brodie robbed houses for 20 years until he was captured and publicly hanged. He successfully kept his double-life a secret for twenty years. Brodie was possibly a model for both Jekyll and Hyde.  His double-life was similar to Jekyll's. His crimes, such as burglary and theft, are identical to those committed by Hyde in the novella. Stevenson was fascinated by Brodie, even though he had been hanged in the gallows many years before he was born.<ref>Gibson, p. 13</ref> Apparently, there was a cabinet made by the burglar in his family home, and he wrote a play based on the criminal while a teenager. This is considered by some to be an early draft of what would become the ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’ ====A French Jekyll====Stevenson got the name Jekyll from Reverend Walter Jekyll, a friend of Stevenson. He was a very respectable figure in Edinburgh. However, another friend of his youth appears to have at least partly inspired the character of Jekyll. In his youth, Stevenson became the friend of a former medical student and a French language teacher. It appears that the former teacher of Stevenson introduced the two. Chantrelle was a charismatic and charming figure and something of a ladies man. The future author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island, apparently liked to practice his French with Chantrelle, over drinks.  In reality, the Scottish author knew that he was having a good time with a devil. Chantrelle was a sexual predator and possibly a serial killer. The Frenchman was arrested for the murder of his wife.<ref>Bradley, Jane Real-life Jekyll & Hyde, who inspired Stevenson’s classic, The Scotsman, 25 November 2016, p. 4</ref> She was only a naïve 16-year-old girl from Edinburgh when she was introduced and fell in love with the French charmer. However, after their marriage, he abused her horribly and later coldly murdered her, for money.  At the trial, it emerged that Chantrelle had been preying on young women for years. He also may have poisoned some, and many may have died as a result.<ref>Bradley, p. 4</ref> The trial, which Stevenson attended, caused a sensation at the time. The young author was surprised and later profoundly shaken by the discovery that his friend, Chantrelle, was a murderer. The French killer was probably the model for Dr. Jekyll. shocked by the discovery that he had been a friend of a monster. Stevenson became preoccupied with the two-fold nature of people, who could be inexplicably evil and yet also decent, after the trial of Chantrelle. This theme of the double nature of humanity is one of the most important in his novella of 1883. Chantrelle was hanged in Edinburgh in 1878. ====Conclusion====Jekyll and Hyde is a great story, at once a classic of the horror genre and also a thriller. The story of the respectable doctor and his alter ego tells us something about our inner nature. Naturally, the story is only a work of fiction, but it is rooted in historical fact. Stevenson was clearly influenced by the emerging science of psychiatry and especially the case of Vivat. Then he had a life-long obsession with the life and crimes of Deacon Brodie. He was a perfect example of the duality of the human condition, at one respectable and moral, at other times, malign and dark. The double life of the Edinburgh cabinet maker, undoubtedly, influenced the Scottish author, in the creation of both Hyde and Jekyll. Stevenson appears to have been profoundly shaken by the discovery that his friend, Chantrelle, was a murderer. The French killer was probably the model for Dr. Jekyll. ====Further Reading==Further Reading==

Doane, J. , and Hodges, D., 1989, October. Demonic Disturbances of Sexual Identity: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr/s Hyde. In Novel: A Forum on Fiction (Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 63-74). Duke University Press. Buzwell, Greg. "Man Is Not Truly One, but Truly Two': Duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."." The British Library (2014), pp 1-5