The Addiction of Dr. Jekyll

The overall premise of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one that is familiar to many. In this novella, Robert Louis Stevenson explores the contrasting qualities of good and evil and also shows that there is indeed some gray area between the two. The main subject of the text is Dr. Jekyll, a well-to-do doctor in London attempts to purge himself of what he considers is his evil half. He does this by developing a special formula that transforms himself into an unrecognizable creature. Both his mind and body are foreign to himself and the rest of society. Eventually, since he derives so much pleasure out of being someone else, Jekyll begins abusing this medicine. Stevenson portrays Jekyll as a drug abuser and addict in this novella. He does this to further illuminate that there really is no true line between good and evil, but more of a blur.

Dr. Jekyll’s initial motives in developing his transforming medicine were very well-founded. In fact, Jekyll had no idea that his discovery would transform him physically at all. Jekyll simply wanted to extricate his evil self from his good. Jekyll believed that “If each [side of one’s personality; good and evil]…could but be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that was unbearable” (Stevenson p 49). Jekyll felt as though he was a compilation of multiple characters, and that the desires of these characters opposed each other too often. He thought it would be simpler to remove the more negative of the two medically and then he would only have to deal with the wishes of the more socially acceptable and favorable side.

Unfortunately, Dr. Jekyll’s medicine transformed him much more so than he expected. Instead of only mentally changing him as he supposed it would, Jekyll was also physically transformed beyond recognition. The mental changes that the transforming medicine brought on, coupled with the extraordinary physical differences that it produced made Dr. Jekyll feel freer and he had ever felt in his life. He took on a new persona, Mr. Hyde, and as this person he felt as though he could give into his every desire without social ramifications. While both physically and mentally transformed into Hyde, Jekyll felt as though he was capable of anything and it was a very welcome escape from his normal, every-day life in which he felt as though he had to conform and perform for his friends and for society.

Even at that time, I had not yet conquered my aversion to the dryness of a life of study. I would still be merrily disposed at times; and as my pleasures were (to say the least) undignified, and I was not only well known and highly considered, but growing towards the elderly man, this incoherency of my life was daily growing more unwelcome. It was on this side that my new power tempted me until I fell in slavery. I had but to drink the cup, to doff at once the body of the noted professor, and to assume, like a thick cloak, that of Edward Hyde.

(Stevenson p 52).

Jekyll notes in the above passage that Edward Hyde was like a “cloak;” he felt protected and safe in the body of Hyde. Many drug users become abusers because they feel as though they need to escape from the monotony of life, or need a release from all of their stressors. Jekyll notes in the above passage that his undignified pleasures were becoming increasingly unwelcome in his life of high society. He felt as though he had very much to live up to and becoming Hyde provided him with the release he needed to do anything without any ramifications. Another big attraction of drug use is that it can numb the user and lessen any pain that might be affecting him or her. Jekyll states that being Hyde was a comfort to him. These statements are identical to the reasons give by drug addicts as to why they began chronic use of substances.

When Jekyll changes himself into Hyde by way of his transforming medicine, he undergoes many mental alterations that are identical to the modifications brought on by drug use. Hyde has no long-term considerations and acts purely on whim. Whatever strikes his fancy at a given moment, he gladly gives in to. Many drugs provide this same impulse-driven behavior without much consideration of the future. Hyde is also quite violent, which is another trait that many drugs bring out in users.

The most striking resemblance in the behavior of Dr. Jekyll and drug addicts is that Jekyll seems unable to control his own actions when it comes to his transforming medicine. He cannot resist taking it and turning into Hyde at any chance he can get. He keeps coming back for more and more. Eventually, Jekyll becomes scared of his addictive behavior and stops taking the medicine for several months. This is identical to the behavior of other addicts who are in denial of their dependence. Many alcoholics and drug