Comparative Analysis: Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Stevenson, 1886) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Mamoulian, 1931)

SAN PEDRO COLLEGE
Senior High School Department

12 C. Guzman St., Bo. Obrero, Davao City
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS:
STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (STEVENSON, 1886) AND
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (MAMOULIAN, 1931)
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
EAP – ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES
SUBMITTED BY:
LOPEZ, LENNY LAINE L.
GRADE 11 – STEM 1
SUBMITTED TO:
MS. XELA SANNY R. FAZON
DATE
DECEMBER 3, 2018
“DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE” WORD COUNT: 1098
Most people know that when a book will be adapted into a film there will always be
a possibility that it will not portray the book clearly and precisely. “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
directed by Rouben Mamoulian starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins and Rose Hobart
is a 1931 Horror and Sci-Fi film that is based on the 1886 gothic novella “The strange
case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” written by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the many
books that can make that statement true. I chose this book because I have been wanting
to read it ever since I laid eyes on its physical book inside the library of the school that I
used to go to. Since this is an movie and book set in old times, I want to know if it would
still perk up my interest as a student living in a modern and advanced world. I thought
that both movie and book would bore me but it is actually more than I anticipated. Both of
them have the same story line but they differ on how they tell the story. The story is about
a man named Dr. Henry Jekyll, that decides to make a potion that separates his good
and bad side in order to have two identities. His experiments went successfully and used
it to transform himself into Mr. Hyde. The movie and the book have different ways on how
they tell the story.
Let us start with the book. The book is told in Utterson’s point of view. It started
with a lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson and his relative Mr. Enfield taking a walk. On
this walk, Enfield recalls a strange encounter he had with a man named Mr. Hyde.
Utterson is in complete shock when Enfield said this for this man is associated with his
friend, Dr. Jekyll. Because of this, he decides to find the connection between Jekyll and
Hyde. Jekyll created a formula that divides his good and evil side in hope of relieving the
burden of his conscience. He does not want to destroy his good public image because of
his dark urges. When Jekyll becomes Hyde for the first time, he delights in the youth and
freedom which led him to plan a double life where he can be Mr. Hyde to indulge in his
dark urges while keeping his perfect reputation as Dr. Jekyll. Hyde’s intentions in the book
are vague and not really stated unless it needs to. Jekyll only decided to stop becoming
Mr. Hyde when his reputation was tainted because of the death of Sir Danvers Carew
that is caused by Hyde. Jekyll sees Hyde as a whole different person. He does not see
Hyde’s misdeeds as his. Dr. Lanyon, an old friend of Dr. Jekyll dies in shock when he
witnessed Dr. Jekyll transform into Mr. Hyde. He wrote a letter only to be read by Utterson
only. Tables have turned when Jekyll turns into Hyde even without drinking the formula.
As time goes by Jekyll could not control his transformation anymore and Hyde took over
his body. Hyde locked himself up at the laboratory of Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Utterson and Poole,
Jekyll’s butler forced their way into Dr. Jekyll’s lab because they thought that Hyde
kidnapped and tried to kill Jekyll but it turns out that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person
and Hyde committed suicide. Utterson found a letter and evidences that tells the journey
on how Jekyll’s life had come to this point.
Now, let’s talk about the film. The movie started with Dr. Jekyll playing a piece in
an organ in his point of view. He gave a lecture about his controversial theory; that it is
possible to separate the good and evil of man. He is condemned by his peers, but he is
determined to prove them all wrong. Jekyll has a fiancée named Muriel Carew. He helped
a girl named Ivy Pearson in she got attracted to him. In the movie, he created the formula
in order to help human beings get rid of their evil nature and become wholly good; to
benefit humanity. When Jekyll turned into Hyde for the first time, Hyde had acts as his
own identity with his own motives. This made Jekyll reluctant of Hyde. Because of Jekyll
and Hyde’s shared memories, Hyde knew about Ivy and started terrorizing and abusing
her. Soon after, Jekyll knew that Hyde is hurting innocent people such as Ivy. He took
responsibility with Hyde’s actions and vowed to himself that he will never transform into
Hyde ever again. When he was on his way to his fiancé’s party he suddenly transformed
into Hyde and got shocked. He asked for help to his friend Lanyon by writing a letter to
him about certain chemicals in his lab. When Hyde decided to go to Lanyon’s house,
Lanyon won’t let Hyde to go out unless he assures him that Jekyll is safe. He doesn’t
have a choice but to transform right in front of Lanyon. Lanyon is shocked about it. Soon
after, Jekyll knew that Hyde would soon take over his body so he decided to set free his
fiancée Muriel and bid goodbyes. After this he became Hyde completely while still in
Carew’s house. Hyde terrorized the Carew residence and ended up killing sir Danvers
Carew. Lanyon and the police officers searched for Hyde all over the city until they found
him in Jekyll’s laboratory. Hyde ran all over the laboratory until Lanyon shot him. Hyde’s
dead body transformed into Jekyll one last time.
The book and the movie have similarities, but the differences can be seen clearly.
Though both works have the same story line, they both differ on how it is portrayed. Major
alterations can be found in the movie such as the addition and removing of characters,
reformed roles and also some changes in the narrative. Nevertheless, both works are
marvelously made by its creator. This literary work might be set and made in old times
but it is still makes an impact to me as a living in a modern world.

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SAN PEDRO COLLEGE

Senior High School Department

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