Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde – Ein Case Report?

Robert Louis Stevenson hat 1886 einen der aufsehenerregendsten Case Reports der belletristischen Literatur geschaffen. Dr. Jekyll mäandert unter dem Einfluss einer mysteriösen Substanz zwischen guten und bösen Persönlichkeitsanteilen ([Abb. 1]). Krankheiten haben das Leben und literarische Schaffen von Stevenson bestimmt und er hat mit Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde den ärztlichen Selbstversuch und seine zerstörerischen Konsequenzen meisterhaft inszeniert.

Abstract

Robert Louis Stevenson for many years had to lead the life of an invalid. He most likely suffered from hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia rather than from tuberculosis. His illness, however, did not prevent him from writing one of the most famous horror novels: “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. It is not a doctor's novel, and yet it can also be read as a medical case report. The literary figure Jekyll/Hyde shows a strange behavior which can be attributed to either illnesses such as epilepsia, syphilis, or dissociative identity disorder. Alternative explanations could be substance use disorder or side effects of a homemade antiepileptic therapy with potassium bromide. Dr. Jekyll commits suicide by ingesting hydrocyanic acid. The author died of cerebral haemorrhage, possibly triggered by vascular malformations in the context of his underlying disease. Reflecting on Stevenson’s novella, the macabre and mystical setting serves as a stage to display good and evil, light and shadow – the eternal duality of human existence. The reader senses that we all inherit a destructive force, but we long to be able to control its momentum. It dawns upon us, however, that the diabolical promise given to Adam and Eve in the biblical creation story, i. e. “you will be like God and know what is good and evil” will remain wishful thinking.

Schlüsselwörter

Literatur - hereditäre hämorrhagische Teleangiektasie - Substanzgebrauchsstörung - dissoziative Identitätsstörung - Epilepsie

Key words

literature - hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia - substance use disorder - dissociative identity disorder - epilepsia

Publication History

Article published online:
05 December 2022

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