Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde feelings on the story

[Kenna]

I think that even though they solved the mystery in the end, the author should have gone on a little longer with the story. I felt that the author kind of just cut the story short, because he wanted to get the story done.

I also think that Jekyll/Hyde dying in the end was a bit much. I thought that with everything at stake one of the dual personalities would've lived?

What are your thoughts on the subjects?
Do you have anymore thoughts that the book didn't correct?

[Nick]

I don't think the author owes it to us to meet our expectations. In our era of needless sequels, many contemporary authors leave stories open-ended, as if to leave room for a sequel or spin-off. After reading so many books with convenient and pleasant endings, I find it refreshing to be surprised or even disappointed.

I also like reading classics because is does give us insight into the cultural and social background of the era it was written. Back then, the monsters pretty much always died in works of fiction. It might have been seen as morally wrong to leave Jekyll/Hyde living at the end because of the hideous things he's done. He was an aberration, and even if he had been cured and the Hyde personality was gone forever, that wouldn't really erase all the crimes Jekyll did commit as Mr. Hyde.

In short, I view classics like this ones as more than just stories. They're cultural landmarks. They don't follow our trends and our changing tastes, but they reveal something of the past.

[Kenna]

When you say it that way, I feel like someone evil critizing someone I shouldn't critize. I now see the book in a new way.