Thank you for this wonderful analysis and pointing out the alleged physicality of evil. It could be interesting to look at the many adaptations of this play and see the extent to which they deviate from the original specially in how they portray the transformation (is it connected to physical changes and are these changes similar to those in the book/concurrent thinking), and to explore how Hyde commits violence.
These changes may help understand the views of those people making those adaptations.
Thanks so much for reading, and for your thoughtful comment! The text is so visual, perhaps even more so than Frankenstein or Dracula, that it’s a particularly evocative lens through which to examine the evolution of definitions of deviation and criminality, as you point out, since it literalizes those categories through Jekyll’s transforming body. Such a comprehensive study would be a massive undertaking, but so fascinating to read!
This reminded me: I should show you the Movie Maniacs action figure that was made for this era (likely riffing more on the 1908 version) of Jekyll and Hyde. It's pretty freaky, too. Also, reading this made me even more creeped out by the now defunct theme restaurant Jekyll and Hyde, which was kitschy and cute and, now, an uncomfortable juxtaposition against the rapey vibes of the movie. Yikes.
Thanks for reading! I started off expecting to be laughing my way through the film and then was huddled up on the couch by the end, muttering, “this is legitimately upsetting.”
Hello,
Thank you for this wonderful analysis and pointing out the alleged physicality of evil. It could be interesting to look at the many adaptations of this play and see the extent to which they deviate from the original specially in how they portray the transformation (is it connected to physical changes and are these changes similar to those in the book/concurrent thinking), and to explore how Hyde commits violence.
These changes may help understand the views of those people making those adaptations.
Wonderful column!
Thanks so much for reading, and for your thoughtful comment! The text is so visual, perhaps even more so than Frankenstein or Dracula, that it’s a particularly evocative lens through which to examine the evolution of definitions of deviation and criminality, as you point out, since it literalizes those categories through Jekyll’s transforming body. Such a comprehensive study would be a massive undertaking, but so fascinating to read!
This reminded me: I should show you the Movie Maniacs action figure that was made for this era (likely riffing more on the 1908 version) of Jekyll and Hyde. It's pretty freaky, too. Also, reading this made me even more creeped out by the now defunct theme restaurant Jekyll and Hyde, which was kitschy and cute and, now, an uncomfortable juxtaposition against the rapey vibes of the movie. Yikes.
Thank you for the shout out, Tracy! Very kind of you. Top-notch article too, of course!
Right back at you!
Great post! J&H (1931) is legitimately horrifying, and you've done a great job explaining why.
Thanks for reading! I started off expecting to be laughing my way through the film and then was huddled up on the couch by the end, muttering, “this is legitimately upsetting.”