The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is a gothic horror narrative (published in 1886) about the complexities of science and the duplicity of human nature. Dr Jekyll is a kind, well-respected and intelligent scientist who meddles with the darker side of science, as he wants to bring out his 'second' (evil) nature. Jekyll has developed a potion that allows him to transform himself into Hyde and back again. When he runs out of the potion, he is trapped in his Hyde form and commits suicide. While in the character of Hyde, he is violent and commits terrible crimes - the trampling of an innocent young girl and the murder of Carew. He is unforgiving and doesn't repent for his crimes and sins. He is selfish and wishes for complete dominance over Jekyll.
Verdict: The subject matter of this novella is much more suited for study by a mature audience. It is often taught at third level institutions as an example of sexual power struggle and is (supposedly) full of phallic (penis) images. This theme, along with the crime and suicide, renders this novel unsuitable for study at Junior Level.