What's the Difference between Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the Book and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the Movie?
| In the Book |
In the Movie |
Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde
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Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde
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Mr. Gabriel John Utterson
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This Character does not appear.
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Dr. Hastie Lanyon
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Dr. John Lanyon
Portrayed by: Holmes Herbert
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Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde
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Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde
Portrayed by: Fredric March
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This Character does not appear.
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Ivy Pearson
Portrayed by: Miriam Hopkins
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This Character does not appear.
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Muriel Carew
Portrayed by: Rose Hobart
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Mr. Richard Enfield
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This Character does not appear.
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Sir Danvers Carew
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Sir Danvers Carew
Portrayed by: Halliwell Hobbes
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Poole
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Poole
Portrayed by: Edgar Norton
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Book vs Movie
| In the Book |
In the Movie |
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Story catalyst: Mr. Utterson taking a walk alongside his relative Mr. Enfield. On this walk, Mr. Enfeild recalls an encounter he had with a detestable man named Edward Hyde. Mr. Utterson is shocked to learn this man is associated with his friend, the well-respected Dr. Henry Jekyll. |
Story catalyst: Dr. Jekyll gives a lecture on his controversial theory; that one can separate the good and evil of man. He is condemned by his peers, but determines to prove them wrong. |
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Mureil and Ivy do not exist; Jekyll has no love interests. |
Jekyll has a fiancée, Muriel Carew. He helps a bar singer, Ivy Pearson, and she becomes attracted to him.
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The formula was originally created in hope of relieving the burden of Jekyll's conscience. (He feels divided between acting on his darker urges and keeping his good public image.) |
Jekyll makes the formula so human beings can be rid of their evil nature and become wholly good; to benefit humanity. |
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After Jekyll becomes Hyde for the first time, he delights in the youth and freedom of his sensations. He carefully plans a double life where he assumes the form of Hyde to indulge his depraved desires, and changes back into Jekyll to keep his respect and status. |
Hyde acts more as a separate identity with motives different from Jekyll. Jekyll is reluctant of Hyde at first, then soon regrets taking the formula entirely.
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Hyde's pleasures are vague and never described in detail; only told briefly during important plot points. |
Hyde's evil deeds are shown more explicitly, he seems most focused terrorizing and abusing Ivy Pearson. |
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Jekyll's reputation and well-being are at stake after Hyde murders Sir Danvers; this is what motivates him to stop taking the formula. |
Jekyll vows to stop the experiment after he sees Ivy's suffering. Jekyll cannot allow Hyde to continue harming innocent people.
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Hyde turns into Jekyll in front of Dr. Lanyon, this causes Lanyon to die of shock. |
Lanyon survives. |
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Utterson and Poole force their way into Jekyll's cabinet where Hyde has locked himself inside. |
Lanyon and a few police officers break into Jekyll's lab.
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Jekyll never feels remorse or guilt over Hyde's misdeeds (even after the murder); he sees them as Hyde's actions, not his. |
Jekyll takes responsibility for Hyde's actions. |
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Told from Utterson's point of view as he spends most of the story trying to figure out Jekyll's connection to Hyde. |
Shown almost entirely through Jekyll's perspective; there is no mystery about Hyde's relationship with Jekyll (a plot twist in the original novella). Utterson is omitted and replaced by Dr. Lanyon.
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Jekyll had already created the formula and regularly became Hyde years before the events of the novella; revealed through a series of documents. |
Shows Jekyll's first time making the formula and becoming Hyde; linear narrative from start to finish. |
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Sir Danvers Carew plays a very minor role with no spoken dialogue. |
Carew is the father of Jekyll's fiancée, Muriel, and a source of conflict in Jekyll's life.
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Jekyll is an older bachelor in his 50s. |
He is a much younger fiancé; mid/late 20s. |
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Hyde commits suicide before he is captured. |
Hyde is shot by Lanyon.
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This does not happen. |
Hyde turns into Jekyll after he dies. |