The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is an investigation
into the duality in human character. The novel demonstrates the duality in personality of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde through the conflict between the good and evil side of human
personality.
Embodies, represents, reflects, resonates, connotes, evokes,
The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
You are given an extract
Set in the VICTORIAN era
Plot summary:
Chapter 1: “Story of the door”
Mr Utterson is a wealthy, well-respected London lawyer, a reserved and perhaps even
boring man who nevertheless inspires a strange fondness in those who know him. Despite
his eminent respectability, he never abandons a friend whose reputation has been sullied or
ruined.
Utterson nurtures a close friendship with Mr. Enfield, his distant relative and likewise a
respectable London gentleman. The two seem to have little in common, and when they take
their weekly walk together, they often go for quite a distance without saying anything to
one another; nevertheless, they look forward to these strolls as one of the high points of the
week.
As the story begins, Utterson and Enfield are taking their regular Sunday stroll and walking
down a particularly prosperous-looking street. They come upon a neglected building, which
seems out of place in the neighbourhood, and Enfield relates a story in connection with it.
Enfield was walking in the same neighbourhood late one night, when he witnessed a
shrunken, misshapen man crash into and trample a young girl. He collared the man before
he could get away, and then brought him back to the girl, around whom an angry crowd had
gathered. The captured man appeared so overwhelmingly ugly that the crowd immediately
despised him. United, the crowd threatened to ruin the ugly man’s good name unless he did
something to make amends; the man, seeing himself trapped, bought them off with one
hundred pounds, which he obtained upon entering the neglected building through its only
door. Strangely enough, the check bore the name of a very reputable man; furthermore,
and in spite of Enfield’s suspicions, it proved to be legitimate and not a forgery. Enfield
hypothesizes that the ugly culprit had somehow blackmailed the man whose name
appeared on the check. Spurning gossip, however, Enfield refuses to reveal that name. (It is
Jekyll)
,Utterson then asks several pointed questions confirming the details of the incident. Enfield
tries to describe the nature of the mysterious man’s ugliness but cannot express it, stating,
”I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why.” He divulges that the culprit’s
name was Hyde, and, at this point, Utterson declares that he knows the man, and notes that
he can now guess the name on the check. But, as the men have just been discussing the
virtue of minding one’s own business, they promptly agree never to discuss the matter
again.
Chapter 2: “Search for Mr. Hyde”
Utterson, prompted by his conversation with Enfield, goes home to study a will that he drew
up for his close friend Dr. Jekyll It states that in the event of the death or disappearance of
Jekyll, all of his property should be given over immediately to a Mr. Edward Hyde. This
strange will had long troubled Utterson, but now that he has heard something of Hyde’s
behaviour, he becomes more upset and feels convinced that Hyde has some peculiar power
over Jekyll. Seeking to unravel the mystery, he pays a visit to Dr Lanyon, a friend of Jekyll’s.
But Lanyon has never heard of Hyde and has fallen out of communication with Jekyll as a
result of a professional dispute. Lanyon refers to Jekyll’s most recent line of research as
“unscientific balderdash.”
Later that night, Utterson is haunted by nightmares in which a faceless man runs down a
small child and in which the same terrifying, faceless figure stands beside Jekyll’s bed and
commands him to rise. Soon, Utterson begins to spend time around the run-down building
where Enfield saw Hyde enter, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Hyde. Hyde, a small
young man, finally appears, and Utterson approaches him. Utterson introduces himself as a
friend of Henry Jekyll. Hyde, keeping his head down, returns his greetings. He asks Hyde to
show him his face, so that he will know him if he sees him again; Hyde complies, and, like
Enfield before him, Utterson feels appalled and horrified yet cannot pinpoint exactly what
makes Hyde so ugly. Hyde then offers Utterson his address, which the lawyer interprets as a
sign that Hyde eagerly anticipates the death of Jekyll and the execution of his will.
After this encounter, Utterson pays a visit to Jekyll. At this point, we learn what Utterson
himself has known all along: namely, that the run-down building that Hyde frequents is
actually a laboratory attached to Jekyll’s well-kept townhouse, which faces outward on a
parallel street. Utterson is admitted into Jekyll’s home by Jekyll’s butler, Mr. Poole, but Jekyll
is not at home. Poole tells Utterson that Hyde has a key to the laboratory and that all the
servants have orders to obey Hyde. The lawyer heads home, worrying about his friend. He
assumes Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll, perhaps for some wrongdoings that Jekyll committed in
his youth.
, Chapter 3: “Dr. Jekyll was quite at ease”
Two weeks later, Jekyll throws a well-attended dinner party. Utterson stays late so that the
two men can speak privately. Utterson mentions the will, and Jekyll begins to make a joke
about it, but he turns pale when Utterson tells him that he has been “learning something of
young Hyde.” Jekyll explains that the situation with Hyde is exceptional and cannot be
solved by talking. He also insists that “the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.” But
Jekyll emphasizes the great interest he currently takes in Hyde and his desire to continue to
provide for him. He makes Utterson promise that he will carry out his will and testament.
Chapter 4: “The Carew murder case
Approximately one year later, the scene opens on a maid who, sitting at her window in the
wee hours of the morning, witnesses a murder take place in the street below. She sees a
small, evil-looking man, whom she recognizes as Mr. Hyde, encounter a polite, aged
gentleman; when the gentleman offers Hyde a greeting, Hyde suddenly turns on him with a
stick, beating him to death. The police find a letter addressed to Utterson on the dead body,
and they consequently summon the lawyer. He identifies the body as Sir Danvers Carew, a
popular member of Parliament and one of his clients.
Utterson still has Hyde’s address, and he accompanies the police to a set of rooms located in
a poor, evil-looking part of town. Utterson reflects on how odd it is that a man who lives in
such squalor is the heir to Henry Jekyll’s fortune. Hyde’s villainous-looking landlady lets the
men in, but the suspected murderer is not at home. The police find the murder weapon and
the burned remains of Hyde’s chequebook. Upon a subsequent visit to the bank, the police
inspector learns that Hyde still has an account there. The officer assumes that he need only
wait for Hyde to go and withdraw money. In the days and weeks that follow, however, no
sign of Hyde turns up; he has no family, no friends, and those who have seen him are unable
to give accurate descriptions, differ on details, and agree only on the evil aspect of his
appearance.
Chapter 5: “Incident of the letter”
Utterson calls on Jekyll, whom he finds in his laboratory looking deathly ill. Jekyll feverishly
claims that Hyde has left and that their relationship has ended. He also assures Utterson
that the police shall never find the man. Jekyll then shows Utterson a letter and asks him
what he should do with it, since he fears it could damage his reputation if he turns it over to
the police. The letter is from Hyde, assuring Jekyll that he has means of escape, that Jekyll
should not worry about him, and that he deems himself unworthy of Jekyll’s great
generosity. Utterson asks if Hyde dictated the terms of Jekyll’s will—especially its insistence
that Hyde inherit in the event of Jekyll’s “disappearance.” Jekyll replies in the affirmative,
and Utterson tells his friend that Hyde probably meant to murder him and that he has had a
near escape. He takes the letter and departs.
