When picking up The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, largely due to popular adaptations, I was full on anticipating a campy, Victorian horror that explored human duality. I was genuinely surprised to then read a gripping tale about psychosis brought on from addiction, or so was my interpretation.

There is a great deal about Jekyll's transformation into Hyde that supports him struggling with substance abuse. When Jekyll begins his transformations, he feels an intense sense of euphoria. As Hyde, Jekyll's judgement is so thoroughly ransacked that his sense of morality is completely warped. Even his physical transformation into this smaller but angrier person, is similar to the physical emaciation of someone suffering from prolonged substance abuse (even though in this tale it happens immediately).

By Stevenson's own description, "The drug had no discriminating action; it was neither diabolical nor divine; it but shook the doors of the prisonhouse of my disposition." Dr. Jekyll is an esteemed, yet ambitious doctor living in stringent Victorian times, it makes sense that a freeing substance would appeal to him. He even hoped to use and manipulate it for good.

However, as is the case with certain types of addiction, the situation escalates as Hyde starts psychically harming others, and he looses complete control over the transformation process. The final outcome is truly quite sad. Given Hyde's actions I did not anticipate feeling such sympathy for Dr. Jekyll, but through the lens of addition and psychosis I couldn't help but feel bad for him.

Ultimately, I would certainly recommend this one, whatever your take on it.