Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is one of the most famous novels in English literature. But what genre does it fit into? Is it a mystery? A horror story? Or something else entirely?
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde has been described as many things, from a psychological thriller to a morality tale to an exploration of the duality of human nature. All of these elements are certainly present in the novel, but at its core, the book is a horror story. It takes all of the familiar tropes associated with horror stories—mystery, suspense, unexpected twists—and builds upon them to create an unforgettable tale that keeps readers guessing until the very end.
The main source of horror in this novel comes from its central character, Mr Hyde. Hyde is mysterious and unpredictable; he commits acts that horrify society and yet no one knows who he is or why he behaves as he does. This sense of unease and uncertainty creates tension throughout the book, as readers are never quite sure what will happen next or how each new development fits into the larger narrative. As if this weren’t enough, there are also elements of gothic horror that add to the atmosphere; for example, Stevenson often uses dark imagery to evoke feelings of dread in his readers.
