Ok, the reason that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is such a classic, like Planet of the Apes and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, is because it's an unexplored concept. No one had ever heard of that before! It was science blasphemy. Especially in the mid-1800's. According to the preface, the story actually came from a nightmare that Stevenson had, and upon awakening, he wrote down the story. Stevenson was ridiculously original. In the novel based off his nightmare, Stevenson explores man's multiple personality, particularly the two most starkly different sides: good and evil. This isn't another book about a team of good people battling a team of bad people. It's the battle inside one's own self. Which side would win? In case of Dr. Jekyll, Hyde won out... mostly because while Hyde was purely evil, Jekyll was still your normal human, overall good with a tinge of bad. Dr. Jekyll was unable to separate a purely good and purely evil side. Perhaps if Jekyll had been a purely, stain free "good" side the battle would have been fairer.
It all goes back to the old question of are humans good or evil? Or is it based off their actions and not their "internal nature?"
Once again, Stevenson takes the reader on a wild ride while making them think, question, and wonder. It's a tale beyond imagining with essence of dreams, nightmares, and reality.
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