Henry Jekyll's Tragic Fate

The arc of Henry Jekyll's life from respected doctor to a destroyed man who ultimately loses his identity.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Respected Life

A Respected Life A Man of Reputation Henry Jekyll is a wealthy doctor, a Fellow of the Royal Society, known for his charities and his good works. He is loved by his friends and respected by the public. The Hidden Duality Beneath the surface, he has always felt a conflict between his desire for respectability and his secret pleasures. This dual nature drives him to seek a scientific solution. The Beginning of the End His scientific studies, focused on the mystical, lead him to the discovery of the drug. He believes he can separate his two natures, but this decision will destroy him.

The Descent into Duplicity

The Descent into Duplicity A Double Life Jekyll begins to live a double life, transforming into Hyde to indulge his pleasures. He feels a sense of freedom and power, but also a growing unease as Hyde's acts become more monstrous. The First Warning He wakes up one morning to find his hand has become Hyde's. He realizes that the transformation is becoming involuntary. He is losing control. The Struggle to Reform After the murder of Carew, he resolves to give up Hyde. He succeeds for two months, but then falls back into temptation. The cycle of addiction and remorse tightens.

The Final Loss of Self

The Final Loss of Self A Prisoner in His Own Body Jekyll can no longer control his transformations. He is taken by premonitory shudders, and if he sleeps, he wakes as Hyde. He must take the drug constantly to remain himself. The White Knuckle Struggle His body and mind are weakened by the strain. He becomes a creature eaten up by fever, solely occupied by the horror of his other self. The powers of Hyde grow as Jekyll's strength fails. The End of Henry Jekyll He writes his confession using the last of the pure salt. He knows that after this, he will become Hyde permanently. He brings his life to an end, accepting his fate as a punishment for his hubris.

before the story, Jekyll's early career

months after the first transformation

January, after the involuntary transformation in the park