Due to the interest this summer in the film "Hulk" which has the same theme as "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", I decided to read RL Stevenson's book. Basically I think many academically minded people are trying to read too much into the book. Basically Stevenson was making a statement on the dangers of alcohol or drugs in transforming decent people into anti-social elements. Quite honestly no magic or scientific potion is required. In Scotland, unfortunately, excessive alcohol consumption often leads to anti-social behaviour. Stevenson would often have seen the results of this. Also he was expressing his opinion on the corruption of Victorian society even amongst the professional classes. In Edinburgh it is believed that his Dr Jekyll character was based on Deacon Brodie, a respectable man by day but an outright criminal by night.