Mary Reilly and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, both the movie and the book, exhibit similarities as well as differences. Despite being one among the numerous films based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s renowned novella, Mary Reilly stands apart. The theme and narrative of Mary Reilly deviate from those of the book. Additionally, the characters depicted in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde differ significantly. The story primarily unfolds through the perspective of a serious lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson, who encounters an enigmatic individual known as Mr.”
The text describes a situation where Mr. Hyde, a strange man, tramples a girl in the streets of London late at night. This incident arouses Utterson’s curiosity, prompting him to investigate further. Utterson suspects that his old friend, Dr. Jekyll, is being blackmailed by the same mysterious man he saw that night. The story then follows Utterson as he tries to uncover why someone as respectable as Dr. Jekyll is associated with the enigmatic Mr. Hyde. In contrast, Mary Reilly recounts the story from the perspective of Mary, a housemaid.
Mary, who works as a maid at Dr. Jekyll’s house, is conscious of the social gap between them. She is afraid of the repercussions that may arise if she crosses boundaries and feels unqualified to converse with him when he inquires about her hand scars. Despite these concerns, Dr. Jekyll motivates her to disclose the tale involving rats and her father, which piques his curiosity and initiates more conversation.
The butler scolds Mary for chatting with Dr. Jekyll after they have separated, claiming that it is not appropriate for her to converse or socialize with her “master”. As the movie progresses, Mary and Dr. Jekyll develop a closer relationship and have frequent conversations. By using Utterson as the narrator, Robert Louis Stevenson adds a sense of mystery to the story. Being an outsider to the actions of Jekyll and Hyde, Utterson tries to uncover the truth from an outsider’s viewpoint and remains unaware of the reality until Hyde’s body is discovered.
The book’s ambiguity compels the reader to employ their imagination, drawing conclusions based on Utterson’s disclosed facts and evidence such as the letter from Lanyon and the letter found adjacent to Hyde’s lifeless body towards the conclusion of the book, which divulge all details. The reader is not furnished with the complete picture until the very end. Mary Reilly offers a more straightforward perspective of the story, unfolding within Dr. Jekyll’s residence, essentially unveiling everything that Utterson could only uncover by being present. The variance in setting provides further insight into Dr. Jekyll’s character and portrays his decline more explicitly.
The novella Mary Reilly explores the themes of duality and social class. However, the film adaptation also incorporates additional themes. While the dual nature of man is a recurring theme in both versions, it is not as prominently showcased in the movie compared to the book. Instead, the film primarily focuses on social class, highlighting the distinctions between servants and exploring the societal status of women. Moreover, it critiques the social class system as a whole, suggesting its detrimental consequences. In contrast, the book perpetuates stereotypes, depicting rich and powerful men as nearly flawless while portraying poor men as having questionable morals, engaging in unhealthy behaviors, and resorting to criminal activities.
For instance, when Hyde compensates the family of the girl he trampled, Utterson is shocked because he holds the belief that individuals with wealth do not engage in irrational behaviors, thus assuming only individuals of lower socioeconomic status are capable of committing such crimes. The absence of multifaceted female characters in the book results in a negative portrayal of women, who are either depicted as servants or prostitutes. However, Mary stands out as an exception as she is portrayed as an independent and intelligent character who possesses reading and writing skills. Furthermore, romance is another significant theme explored in the film as Mr. Hyde desires Mary, while Mary herself yearns for Dr. Jekyll.
