FrankensteinMary Shelley vs
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeRobert Louis Stevenson
Two stories of a man who makes a monster and loses control of it. Frankenstein's monster is external — a creature he abandons; Jekyll's is internal — a self he sets free.
| Frankenstein | The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Mary Shelley | Robert Louis Stevenson |
| Year | 1818 | 1886 |
| Reading time | 17 min | 10 min |
| Themes | Creator and creation, Ambition, Alienation, Human nature, Guilt | Human nature, Creator and creation, Guilt, Madness |
- Victor's horror walks the earth as another being; Jekyll's horror is himself, released by a potion.
- Frankenstein asks what we owe what we create; Jekyll asks what we hide inside what we already are.
- The creature is articulate and sympathetic, demanding to be understood; Hyde is pure appetite, beyond reason.
If you're reading both, start with Frankenstein (1818) — it comes first. Then move to The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and watch how the same questions get a different answer.