Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. Shmoop explores which of these structures fits this story like Cinderella’s slipper.
Plot Type : Tragedy
Anticipation Stage
Dr. Jekyll dreams of separating his two natures
Given his own appetite for shame, Dr. Jekyll decides that man has a dual nature—good and evil—and becomes obsessed with separating the two.
Dream Stage
Dr. Jekyll successfully turns into Mr. Hyde
During the day, Dr. Jekyll leads a respectable, sober life. At night, however, he gives way to his secret desires and roams the street as Mr. Hyde. He leads the best of both lives. He’s living the dream.
Frustration Stage
Dr. Jekyll begins unwanted transformations into Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll feels that the balance of his natures is tilting in favor of evil. He then decides to remain permanently as Dr. Jekyll, but the secret desires remain.
Nightmare Stage
Mr. Hyde murders Sir Danvers Carew; his transformations into Mr. Hyde spiral out of control
Mr. Hyde becomes a wanted man throughout the country. Dr. Jekyll resolves to stay respectable, but his transformations into Mr. Hyde increase, even without the aid of his potions.
Destruction Stage
Dr. Jekyll locks himself in his laboratory, and in a moment of lucidity, writes his tell-all memoir
Dr. Jekyll finally loses all control over his transformations into Mr. Hyde and barricades himself in his laboratory. He runs out of his transformative potion and although he tries to make new batches, he cannot duplicate his original potion. He ends his statement by saying that Dr. Jekyll is dead, and that he cannot know what Mr. Hyde will do. This is a textbook ending to the classic tragedy plot.