1. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde By Robert Louis Stevenson

2. Robert Louis Stevenson ‘All human beings are commingled out of good and evil.’ Born 1850 in Edinburgh of Thomas Stevenson, an engineer who build many of our deep-sea lighthouses and Isabella Mary Balfour, whose family contained members of the legal profession and ministers of the Church. Born 1850 in Edinburgh of Thomas Stevenson, an engineer who build many of our deep-sea lighthouses and Isabella Mary Balfour, whose family contained members of the legal profession and ministers of the Church. Brought up to conform to the strict Victorian Middle Class code of respectability Brought up to conform to the strict Victorian Middle Class code of respectability Childhood illnesses meant most of his early years were spent in his bedroom at home where Nurse Cunningham (Cummy) laboured to teach him the difference between pursuing a life of good or evil by describing at great lengths the everlasting torments of hell resulting from selecting the evil choice – unsurprisingly Robert suffered terrible nightmares. Childhood illnesses meant most of his early years were spent in his bedroom at home where Nurse Cunningham (Cummy) laboured to teach him the difference between pursuing a life of good or evil by describing at great lengths the everlasting torments of hell resulting from selecting the evil choice – unsurprisingly Robert suffered terrible nightmares. Nurse Cunningham tried to convince him ‘there are but two camps in the world – one perfectly pious and respectable, one of the perfectly profane, mundane and vicious.’ – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde refutes this simplistic view and argues that there is light and dark in all of us – ‘man is not truly one but truly two’ (Jekyll) Nurse Cunningham tried to convince him ‘there are but two camps in the world – one perfectly pious and respectable, one of the perfectly profane, mundane and vicious.’ – Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde refutes this simplistic view and argues that there is light and dark in all of us – ‘man is not truly one but truly two’ (Jekyll)

3. Life Imitates Art? Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh, a city with two faces, and although Dr Jekyll appears to be set in London, there are many reasons Edinburgh could also be viewed as an appropriate setting. Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh, a city with two faces, and although Dr Jekyll appears to be set in London, there are many reasons Edinburgh could also be viewed as an appropriate setting. At seventeen, whilst studying Engineering at University, Robert would spend a great deal of time in Edinburgh’s notorious Old Town and it has been argued that he, like Jekyll, was leading a double life – respectable middle class student by day and debauchery by night. However, Stevenson witnessed enough middle class double standards that he was determined to avoid such hypocrisy and he reacted against the strict Scottish Presbyterian background of his upbringing. At seventeen, whilst studying Engineering at University, Robert would spend a great deal of time in Edinburgh’s notorious Old Town and it has been argued that he, like Jekyll, was leading a double life – respectable middle class student by day and debauchery by night. However, Stevenson witnessed enough middle class double standards that he was determined to avoid such hypocrisy and he reacted against the strict Scottish Presbyterian background of his upbringing.

4. Other famous publications ‘A Child’s Garden of Verse’ – dedicated to Nurse Cummy ‘A Child’s Garden of Verse’ – dedicated to Nurse Cummy ‘The Master of Ballantrae’ ‘The Master of Ballantrae’ ‘Kidnapped’ ‘Kidnapped’ ‘Treasure Island’ ‘Treasure Island’ ‘Catriona’ ‘Catriona’ ‘Deacon Brodie, or The Double Life’ - play ‘Deacon Brodie, or The Double Life’ - play

5. Victorian Edinburgh Old Town Dirty Dirty Disease ridden Disease ridden Overcrowded Overcrowded Full of Poverty Full of Poverty New Town Prosperous Prosperous Middle class Middle class Clean Clean Ordered Ordered

6. A city with a past William ‘Deacon’ Brodie – well respected craftsman by day, criminal by night – hanged in 1788. In his childhood bedroom, Robert Louis had a cabinet made by William Brodie William ‘Deacon’ Brodie – well respected craftsman by day, criminal by night – hanged in 1788. In his childhood bedroom, Robert Louis had a cabinet made by William Brodie Burke and Hare, the ‘body snatchers’ Burke and Hare, the ‘body snatchers’

7. Timeline of Significant Events 18 th centuryAge of Enlightenment – freedom, democracy and reason 18 th centuryAge of Enlightenment – freedom, democracy and reason 1818Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ 1818Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ 1824James Hogg’s ‘Confessions of a Justified Sinner’ 1824James Hogg’s ‘Confessions of a Justified Sinner’ 1850RLS born in Edinburgh 1850RLS born in Edinburgh 1859Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ 1859Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ 1872RLS quarrels seriously with father over religion and morals 1872RLS quarrels seriously with father over religion and morals 1884RLS publishes short story ‘The Body Snatcher’ 1884RLS publishes short story ‘The Body Snatcher’ 1885French neurologist gives public display of hypnotism 1885French neurologist gives public display of hypnotism 1885RLS writes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 1885RLS writes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 1886Krafft-Ebing’s ‘Psychopathia Sexualis’, RLS publishes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 1886Krafft-Ebing’s ‘Psychopathia Sexualis’, RLS publishes ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ 1888Jack the Ripper murders take place in the East End 1888Jack the Ripper murders take place in the East End 1891Oscar Wilde’s ‘Dorian Gray’ 1891Oscar Wilde’s ‘Dorian Gray’ 1901Freud’s ‘Interpretation of Dreams’ 1901Freud’s ‘Interpretation of Dreams’

8. Echoes through the Ages