sarful's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating concept.
What’s interesting is this notion that Jekyll manages to consolidate all his evil impulses into one entity, devoid of conscience, empathy and reason; he creates Mr. Hyde. But, also that this Mr. Hyde is smaller, younger, hairier and ugly, with something very off about him. As if Jekyll’s class and reputation made him an honorable man, that his upbringing and work for charity made him a “good” man. Yet, the ease and light of following desire only, becomes like a drug for Jekyll and while Jekyll gives lip service to being horrified, he also seems delighted. A way to get away with all his baser instincts and no one the wiser. Jekyll isn’t Hyde’s opposite though. Hyde is Jekyll’s baser dark side, but Jekyll is a combination of his dark side and his enlightened, reasoned self as well. That Jekyll slowly forgets this, is fascinating as well. There’s almost no way Jekyll was going to come out of this unscathed and stay a “good” man. Not only because he separates his evil self from who he is, but because of that he exonerates himself from the crimes his own actions create.
I don’t think we are one science project away from separating our evil selves from our enlightened selves. Or that society necessarily make us better people. Humans are born with the awareness of mortality and therefore thought beyond base. Society just makes our reason more clear or more jaded, I suppose. I do think this highlights how fun it may be to give into dark impulses and get away with it, which happens often. I suppose that’s why we have laws, and governments, society, education and community.
There’s a lot to chew on with this read.
The problem with this novella is that it’s an amazing idea, but kinda boringly written. Just saying.
What’s interesting is this notion that Jekyll manages to consolidate all his evil impulses into one entity, devoid of conscience, empathy and reason; he creates Mr. Hyde. But, also that this Mr. Hyde is smaller, younger, hairier and ugly, with something very off about him. As if Jekyll’s class and reputation made him an honorable man, that his upbringing and work for charity made him a “good” man. Yet, the ease and light of following desire only, becomes like a drug for Jekyll and while Jekyll gives lip service to being horrified, he also seems delighted. A way to get away with all his baser instincts and no one the wiser. Jekyll isn’t Hyde’s opposite though. Hyde is Jekyll’s baser dark side, but Jekyll is a combination of his dark side and his enlightened, reasoned self as well. That Jekyll slowly forgets this, is fascinating as well. There’s almost no way Jekyll was going to come out of this unscathed and stay a “good” man. Not only because he separates his evil self from who he is, but because of that he exonerates himself from the crimes his own actions create.
I don’t think we are one science project away from separating our evil selves from our enlightened selves. Or that society necessarily make us better people. Humans are born with the awareness of mortality and therefore thought beyond base. Society just makes our reason more clear or more jaded, I suppose. I do think this highlights how fun it may be to give into dark impulses and get away with it, which happens often. I suppose that’s why we have laws, and governments, society, education and community.
There’s a lot to chew on with this read.
The problem with this novella is that it’s an amazing idea, but kinda boringly written. Just saying.
justinebt2114's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
reading_for_40_hours_a_day's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kevionna's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rtorreso's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book would have been good if I didn’t already know what was clearly going to happen. There was no mystery to be discovered.
yaminagabe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nina_bonina's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cautionarytale_'s review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
immy007's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
cells12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25