Illuminating “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”: Robert Louis Stevenson\u27s work with artificial light

The purpose of this work was to study the connection between Robert Louis Stevenson and artificial light from a literary perspective. Born into a family of prestigious lighthouse engineers, Stevenson’s work with artificial and natural light did not end when he turned from his engineering apprenticeship in order to pursue a career as a writer. Instead, Stevenson incorporated his fascination with all forms illumination into both his poetry and his prose—the most famous example being his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. By examining this tale it is possible to see how Stevenson’s engineering background not only affected the novella, but how it would continue to influence subsequent adaptations of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well. Stevenson’s early work as a light engineer ultimately allowed him to make use of the natural intersection of light engineering, literary and cultural metaphor, scientific ethics, and societal responsibilities, providing scholars with a new and fascinating means of investigating nineteenth-century literature and culture