Books Quote by Robert Louis Stevenson
““Stevenson had originally conceived the novel as a straightforward horror yarn, involving a thief that invents a potion that changes his physical appearance for the purpose of disguise. In a later essay, ‘A Chapter on Dreams’, Stevenson recalled how this version of the story was suggested by a dream. Disliking the initial result, which also failed to meet the approval of his wife, Fanny, Stevenson destroyed the manuscript. It is possible that it was also Stevenson’s wife who suggested that, by having the transformation happen more haphazardly, a more sophisticated story about man’s equal capacity for good and evil might be told. In any event, Stevenson grasped this idea enthusiastically, completing a new draft in three days.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “A Chapter on Dreams” by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1885
Stevenson revised his horror story after a dream and spousal feedback, turning it into a tale of duality between good and evil.
In simple terms: A story was reshaped from a simple horror plot into a complex moral exploration.
Key Takeaway
Embrace feedback to deepen your work.
Themes
creativity
revision
morality
duality
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- writing process
- story development
- character design
Key Concepts
Narrative structure
psychology of dreams
ethical conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- How does feedback reshape your creative vision?
- What moral dualities exist in your work?
A Different Perspective
Balancing simplicity with depth can be challenging.
