Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Book Notes

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Author/Context

Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850. His father, Thomas, was from a long line of civil engineers and his mother, Margaret Isabella, was a pastor's daughter and a loving Victorian housewife. Young Robert, or Lou, as they called him, was an only child. He grew up having to battle chronic illnesses, the worst being tuberculosis. Relegated to his home for most of his childhood, he was unevenly educated, but displayed an active, creative mind. He started writing and creating stories at an early age. And although his parents were strict Presbyterians, Stevenson's childhood nurse, Alison Cunningham, was a greater religious and literary influence in his early life. Her strong faith and hellfire stories formed Stevenson's preoccupation with sin and eternal damnation.

To please his father, Stevenson enrolled as an engineering student at Edinburgh University. But it was evident his love was in writing. Stevenson spent more time reading the romantic stories of Sir Walter Scott and Alexander Dumas. With the urging of some friends (and despite the disappointment of his father), Stevenson decided to pursue his desire to be a writer. Stevenson frequently took trips, both for health and pleasure. During one of these trips, he met Fanny Obsbourne, an American, ten years his senior, with two children and an estranged husband. Still, Stevenson fell madly in love, temporarily abandoning his writing career to travel all the way to California to propose to her. In 1880, they were married. To his pleasant surprise, his parents accepted her warmly. His father gave them a house in Bournemouth, where Stevenson became friends with William James, William Archer, John Sargent, and many other leading writers and artists of the time.

Despite his poor health, Stevenson resumed his writing career. Previously, he had published travel essays and short stories, but he turned to writing novels. In 1883, he published Treasure Island, a much beloved children's classic. One night, having been awakened amidst a frightful dream, Stevenson remarked to his wife, "I was dreaming a fine bogey tale." From this nightmare came the material for The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He worked on the first manuscript for three straight days. After reading it to his wife, he threw the draft into the fireplace. Stevenson immediately worked on a second version and came up with his little masterpiece. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was published in 1886 and became an instant popular and critical success. It was immediately followed by the publication of Kidnapped later that same year. In 1888, came Black Arrow, his last popular book. On December 3, 1894, Stevenson died of a brain hemorrhage on the island of Somoa.

Stevenson's heritage as a writer can be seen in the works of authors such as Oscar Wilde, Joseph Conrad, Jack London, G.K. Chesterton, and George Bernard Shaw. Stevenson's adventurous life as a Bohemian, world traveler, and Victorian rebel has also been a subject of great interest to many literary scholars. Undoubtedly, Stevenson is placed among the greatest English prose storytellers of the 19th century.

Bibliography

Butts, Dennis. R. L. Stevenson. New York: Henry Z. Walck, Inc., 1966.

McLynn, Frank. Robert Louis Stevenson: A Biography. New York: 1993.

Stevenson, Robert L. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1978

Plot Summary

As Mr. Utterson (a respected lawyer) and Mr. Enfield (a businessman and distant cousin) are taking a walk, they come across a mysterious looking door. Mr. Enfield is reminded of a strange man connected with that door. That man had run over a girl and as compensation, emerged from the door with a check worth nearly one hundred pounds. The signature on the check is that of Mr. Utterson's old friend, Dr. Jekyll. Furthermore, Mr. Utterson notices that the door leads to a laboratory that is connected to Dr. Jekyll's house. Upon hearing the story, Mr. Utterson goes to his study and takes out Dr. Jekyll's Will. It states that upon the death or disappearance of Dr. Jekyll, a certain Edward Hyde is to inherit the estate. Mr. Utterson is convinced that there is something amiss with the will and goes to Dr. Jekyll to inquire about it. Dr. Jekyll tells Mr. Utterson that there is nothing wrong, and to Mr. Utterson's displeasure, refuses to discuss his connection with the odd Hyde fellow.

Almost a year later, a maid looking out her window sees a man club an elderly man to death. The maid recognizes the murderer as Edward Hyde. The victim is a respected gentleman, Sir Danvers Carew, who is also Mr. Utterson's client. After the murder, Mr. Utterson accompanies a police inspector to Hyde's residence in seedy Soho. Hyde is nowhere to be found. Fearing for Dr. Jekyll's safety, Mr. Utterson confronts him once again about his connection with Hyde. Dr. Jekyll swears that he will have nothing to do with Hyde ever again. He even presents a letter signed by Hyde that states Dr. Jekyll has nothing to fear.

Time passes and to Mr. Utterson's relief, Dr. Jekyll returns to his former self, hosting parties and helping out with many charities. Then suddenly, Dr. Jekyll refuses to see people. And mysteriously, Dr. Lanyon, a close friend to both Mr. Utterson and Dr. Jekyll becomes deathly ill. When Mr. Utterson visits him, Dr. Lanyon refuses to talk about Dr. Jekyll. He gives Mr. Utterson a letter that must be opened only upon his death. A week later, Dr. Lanyon passes away.

While Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield are taking another walk, they come across Dr. Jekyll looking out his window. As they talk to him, they witness a horrifying transformation in the doctor's appearance and demeanor that leave them stunned and speechless.

One night, Poole requests Mr. Utterson's help. It seems Dr. Jekyll has locked himself in his laboratory. When Poole and Mr. Utterson approach the door, they hear Hyde's voice. Thinking that there has been foul play, Poole and Mr. Utterson force their way inside. On the floor, they see Hyde's dead body, fitted in Dr. Jekyll's oversized clothes. Inside, they find a letter written by Dr. Jekyll.

Mr. Utterson reads Dr. Lanyon's letter and finds out that Dr. Jekyll was having problems with some unexpected effects of the drug. At various times of the day, Dr. Jekyll would turn into Hyde. During one of those unexpected changes, Dr. Jekyll, who was embodied by Hyde, requested Dr. Lanyon's help in acquiring the ingredients needed for the potion because he could not show himself. In Dr. Lanyon's presence, Hyde transformed himself into Dr. Jekyll. The shock from this event was the cause of Dr. Lanyon's illness and eventual death.

Finally, Mr. Utterson reads Dr. Jekyll's own confession. Dr. Jekyll's initial reasons for developing the drug was to test his theory that man has a dual nature. He was successful in separating the good and evil sides of himself. As Hyde, Dr. Jekyll lived the free and fleshly life of his evil side. But the effects of the drug became unpredictable. Discovering that he cannot get hold of a crucial type of salt, Dr. Jekyll realized that he could no longer continue in this double life. In the laboratory, unsuccessful at recreating the drug, Dr. Jekyll killed himself before Poole and Mr. Utterson could break in. Dr. Jekyll wrote the confession with the knowledge that if the Hyde character won over his nature, there would be no turning back.

Major Characters

Mr. Gabriel John Utterson: An old lawyer and Dr. Jekyll’s good friend of many years, Mr. Utterson is a bit dull, but well respected and known in his community as a person of quality character. His distant kinsman, Mr. Enfield, tells him a story of a mysterious Mr. Hyde. Reminded that Hyde is the main beneficiary of Dr. Jekyll’s will, Mr. Utterson seeks to uncover the strange connection between his friend Dr. Jekyll and the notorious Mr. Hyde.

Mr. Richard Enfield: Mr. Enfield is a young businessman, a distant cousin to Mr. Utterson’s, and his walking companion. They get along because they share a similarly dull and regular nature. While on one of their scheduled Sunday walks, Mr. Enfield begins the narrative by telling a story about his encounter with a mysterious Mr. Hyde. Later, Mr. Enfield and Mr. Utterson witness Dr. Jekyll’s strange behavior as he talks to them from his window.

Mr. Edward Hyde: A small, hunched man with a disagreeable manner, Mr. Hyde comes and goes by the connecting laboratory wing of Dr. Jekyll’s home. Upon hearing from Mr. Enfield about Hyde, Mr. Utterson recognizes the name as the main beneficiary on Dr. Jekyll’s will. Mr. Hyde disappears after he is seen murdering Sir Danvers Carew. In the end, Mr. Utterson finds out that Mr. Hyde is a physical manifestation of Dr. Jekyll’s evil alter ego.

Dr. Henry Jekyll: A well-respected doctor and Mr. Utterson’s good friend, Dr. Jekyll undergoes extreme changes in his behavior. Mr. Utterson is convinced it has something to do with the mysterious Mr. Hyde, who is the main beneficiary of Dr. Jekyll’s will. As it turns out, Dr. Jekyll has invented a chemical formula that can turn a person into his alter ego. Dr. Jekyll uses his Hyde persona to live a secret life of depravity.

Dr. Lanyon: An old friend of Mr. Utterson and Dr. Jekyll, Dr. Lanyon has, over the years, clashed with Dr. Jekyll on certain scientific matters. After the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, when Jekyll unexpectedly turns into Mr. Hyde, he sends a desperate letter to Dr. Lanyon requesting materials from his lab. In front of Dr. Lanyon, Mr. Hyde changes into Dr. Jekyll. After witnessing the transformation, Dr. Lanyon falls ill and dies. He leaves behind a letter addressed to Mr. Utterson, explaining the details of what he saw.

Poole: Dr. Jekyll’s faithful butler, Poole aids Mr. Utterson in uncovering Hyde’s true identity. Poole helps Mr. Utterson break down the laboratory door where they find Hyde dead.

Minor Characters

little girl: In Mr. Enfield’s story, he witnesses a strange man run over a little girl who had been called to fetch a doctor. To compensate for his dastardly deed, the stranger agrees to pay the little girl’s family a sum of one hundred pounds.

maid servant: While looking out her window one night, the maid servant witnesses the brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew. She identifies the murderer as Mr. Hyde.

Sir Danvers Carew: Mr. Utterson’s client, Sir Danvers Carew is an esteemed, kindly old gentleman . One night, a maid servant looking out her window witnesses Mr. Hyde clubbing Sir Danvers Carew to death.

(officer) Inspector Newcomen: The Scotland Yard officer in charge of the Carew murder, Inspector Newcomen goes with Mr. Utterson to Soho to search Hyde’s residence.

Mr. Guest: Mr. Utterson’s young clerk, Mr. Guest is a student of handwriting. When asked by Mr. Utterson to analyze Mr. Hyde’s letter, Mr. Guest notices that the handwriting is similar to Dr. Jekyll’s dinner invitation.

Bradshaw: Dr. Jekyll’s footman, Bradshaw is called upon to help Poole and Mr. Utterson break down the laboratory door and catch whoever is inside. In Dr. Jekyll’s confession, Bradshaw is mentioned as one of his servants who saw Mr. Hyde one moment, and Dr. Jekyll the next.

Objects/Places

London: The city where the story takes place, London is an important setting for this mystery--with its ever-present fog, socially stratified neighborhoods, and Victorian contradictions in what appears to be, and what really is. The rich character of London is central to the story.

Door (Hyde’s entrance into Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory wing): On one of their Sunday walks, Mr. Enfield and Mr. Utterson pass a building with a noticeable door, which prompts Mr. Enfield to tell a story of his encounter with Mr. Hyde. Mr. Utterson’s motivation is to find the secrets lying behind that door.

Dr. Jekyll’s Will: A will that Dr. Jekyll drafts despite the disapproval of his lawyer friend, Mr. Utterson, it states that in the event of Dr. Jekyll’s death or disappearance, Edward Hyde will be the prime beneficiary of the estate.

Cavendish Square: The western section of London where Dr. Lanyon lives, Cavendish Square is known for its affluence.

Soho: The section of London where Edward Hyde lives, Soho is infamous for its seediness and decrepitude.

cane: Mr. Hyde uses a cane to club Sir Danvers Carew to death. Mr. Utterson remembers that it is the same cane that he once gave Dr. Jekyll as a gift.

cheval-glass: The mirror found in Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory, it was used to verify whether the transformations worked. Poole comments that the cheval-glass must have seen some strange things.

Quotes

Quote 1: "I incline to Cain's heresy," he used to say quaintly: "I let my brother go to the devil in his own way." Chapter 1, pg. 37

Quote 2: "You start a question, and it's like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill; and away the stone goes, starting others; and presently some bland old bird (the last you would have thought of) is knocked on the head in his own back garden and the family have to change their name. No, sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask." Chapter 1, pg. 42-43

Quote 3: "The last I think; for, O poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend." Chapter 2, pg. 52

Quote 4: "I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange--a very strange one. It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking." Chapter 3, pg. 57

Quote 5: "I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again. I bind my honour to you that I am done with him in this world. It is all at an end. And indeed he does not want my help; you do not know him as I do; he is safe, he is quite safe; mark my words, he will never more be heard of." Chapter 5, pg. 66

Quote 6: "Some day, Utterson, after I am dead, you may perhaps come to learn the right and wrong of this. I cannot tell you." Chapter 6, pg. 73

Quote 7: "It was for one minute that I saw him, but the hair stood upon my head like quills. Sir, if that was my master, why had he a mask upon his face?" Chapter 8, pg. 84

Quote 8: "My fears incline to the same point. Evil, I fear, founded--evil was sure to come--of that connection. Ay truly, I believe you; I derer (for what purpose, God alone can tell) is still lurking in his victim's room. Well, let our name be vengeance." Chapter 8, pg. 87

Quote 9: "O God!" I screamed, and "O God!" again and again; for there before my eyes--pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death--there stood Henry Jekyll!" Chapter 9, pg. 102

Quote 10: "With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two." Chapter 10, pg. 104

Quote 11: "Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end." Chapter 10, pg. 124

Topic Tracking: Evil

Chapter 1

Evil 1: From the beginning of the story, there is a contrast between Mr. Utterson's straight-laced, upright character and his interesting tolerance for the immoral behavior of some of his friends. Such a protagonist is called upon to "solve" or reveal the evil of Hyde.

Chapter 2

Evil 2: Mr. Utterson is convinced that if he can catch a glimpse of Hyde, many questions can be answered. When he first lays eyes on Hyde, Mr. Utterson is repulsed. He likens Hyde's appearance to Satan, verifying Mr. Enfield's description that there is something sinister about the young man.

Chapter 4

Evil 3: A maid witnesses Hyde commit a murder by clubbing an elderly gentleman to death. As the story progresses, Hyde's crime become more pronounced. He goes from injuring a little girl to killing an old man, seemingly without any conscience.

Chapter 8

Evil 4: Poole feels strongly that the person he saw was Hyde. Mr. Utterson agrees with the assessment, acknowledging that he too had a feeling about the sinister connection between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Mr. Utterson believes that Hyde has come to kill Dr. Jekyll.

Chapter 9

Evil 5: Hyde is the manifestation of Dr. Jekyll's evil side, but the incident at Dr. Lanyon's house shows how interconnected Dr. Jekyll and Hyde are. The Dr. Jekyll side allows Hyde to transform, almost as if to show off in front of Dr. Lanyon. The sinister side is present in both Hyde and Dr. Jekyll.

Chapter 10

Evil 6: When Dr. Jekyll drinks from his invention, he feels transformed. Dr. Jekyll conjectures that Hyde is smaller because the evil side of him is less developed. He also believes the evil side is more natural to the human being. Dr. Jekyll concludes that everyone is made up of both good and evil. Hyde, alone in mankind, is pure evil.

Topic Tracking: Hidden

Chapter 1

Hidden 1: While on a Sunday walk, Mr. Enfield tells Mr. Utterson the story of Mr. Hyde, the mysterious person behind the door. Mr. Hyde runs over a girl and would have left the scene if it were not for Mr. Enfield's interference. The man says that he is no gentleman, but wants to avoid a scene. He then goes into the door and brings out a check worth nearly one hundred pounds. Mr. Enfield believes that there is something amiss going on behind that door, possibly blackmail. Fittingly, the man's name is Hyde.

Chapter 2

Hidden 2: Mr. Utterson wants to discover the apparent mystery behind Mr. Hyde's connection with Dr. Jekyll. When he first encounters Hyde, Mr. Utterson thinks that the young man is related to some sin of Dr. Jekyll's past. This thought makes Mr. Utterson reflect on the hidden sins of his own past, which humbles him.

Chapter 4

Hidden 3: After the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen search Hyde's residence in Soho. They do not find him there. He seems to have just disappeared.

Chapter 5

Hidden 4: Mr. Utterson is a cautious person who does not like to flirt with scandal. After the Carew murder, the city is in an uproar and news is going around about the details. Knowing that his doctor friend is tangentially involved in the Carew murder case, the loyal Mr. Utterson is careful to protect his friend's good name. Mr. Utterson tries to keep Dr. Jekyll's relationship with Hyde away from public scrutiny as best as he can.

Chapter 6

Hidden 5: For a while, Dr. Jekyll opens up his house to his friends, but a sudden change of events turn him into a recluse again. Even Dr. Lanyon begins to act strange, refusing to tell Mr. Utterson what is wrong. Mr. Utterson has the opportunity to unlock the secrets of the mystery, but his professional honor prevents him from reading Dr. Lanyon's sealed letter that explicitly states: "not to be opened till the death or disappearance of Dr. Henry Jekyll." Dr. Jekyll, meanwhile, is constantly locked up in his laboratory, as if he were in hiding.

Chapter 8

Hidden 6: Poole notifies Mr. Utterson that Dr. Jekyll has locked himself in the laboratory. When they approach the door, the voice from inside sounds like Hyde. Poole and Mr. Utterson decide that it is time they finally uncover the mystery behind the laboratory door. They get an ax and break down the door, revealing what has long been hidden.

Chapter 10

Hidden 7: Dr. Jekyll lives a life of duplicity through the body of Hyde. When his life as Hyde can no longer be hidden, Dr. Jekyll tries desperately to remove that side from his life. But the pull is too strong. As he begins to feel the Hyde character taking greater control over his life, Dr. Jekyll resorts to killing himself.

Topic Tracking: Two-Faced

Chapter 1

Two-Faced 1: Mr. Enfield is reluctant to dig into matters because he is afraid that he might uncover unpleasant truths. The stranger it seems, the less he is going to ask. This is illustrative of Victorian times, where appearance was one thing, reality another. Just as it is hard to tell where one building ends and another begins, it is difficult to tell what face of Victorian society is the real one--the appearance of civility or the immorality underneath.

Chapter 5

Two-Faced 2: The strange relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is highlighted by their similar handwriting. Mr. Guest, who is an expert in hands, brings this to light, further intensifying the mystery.

Chapter 7

Two-Faced 3: On their walk, Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield are surprised to find Dr. Jekyll at his window, in somber, yet peaceful spirits. In a flash, however, they witness a horrifying physical transformation as Dr. Jekyll goes into a convulsion. They leave the scene speechless.

Chapter 8

Two-Faced 4: Poole tells Mr. Utterson of the time he saw a figure digging at some crates in the cabinet room. When the figure looked up at Poole, he let out a cry and ran upstairs. Poole says that the figure had a mask on its face. Mr. Utterson believes Dr. Jekyll must be wearing a mask because of some malady that causes physical deformation. In a sense, Dr. Jekyll has been living a life where he is wearing two masks--one, the mask of respectability; the other, a mask of depravity. When it is no longer possible to switch "masks" at will, Dr. Jekyll must resort to wearing a mask to disguise his "mask."

Chapter 9

Two-Faced 5: Out of desperation, Dr. Jekyll writes a letter to Dr. Lanyon, requesting the contents of his potion. When he goes (as Hyde) to pick up the material, he reveals his secret to Dr. Lanyon by drinking the potion and turning into Dr. Jekyll.

Chapter 10

Two-Faced 6: As a young man, Dr. Jekyll is torn between his urges to live lustfully, and the life of a respectable doctor. His theory of man's dual nature leads him to find a drug to separate the two sides--evil and good.

Chapter 1 - Story of the Door

Mr. Utterson is a stuffy lawyer, unassuming, straight-laced, reliable--traits that make him a trustworthy friend. An attribute he especially takes pride in is his tolerance. He is known to offer help more than rebuke. Thus, he is often the friend who is called upon to help out those who are downtrodden and in need.

"I incline to Cain's heresy," he used to say quaintly: "I let my brother go to the devil in his own way." Chapter 1, pg. 37

Topic Tracking: Evil 1

On Sundays, Mr. Utterson takes walks through the streets of London with Mr. Richard Enfield, a young businessman and distant kinsman. Observers notice that they seem to be bound by their similar dull natures.

On one of their Sunday walks, they come upon a quaint little street, to a building with a peculiar door, which prompts Mr. Enfield to recount an odd story:

One early morning while the city was asleep, Mr. Enfield witnessed a man trample over a little girl who was running for a doctor. The man continued on his way as if nothing happened. Mr. Enfield chased the man down, cornered and brought him back to the scene of the accident. The family of the little girl was causing a commotion and the doctor, who the girl was running for, arrived on the scene as another witness. Not wanting to let the man go unpunished, Mr. Enfield and the doctor coerced the man to pay the girl's family a sum of one hundred pounds. The mysterious man's response to the situation was, "No gentleman but wishes to avoid a scene" (pg. 41). The man escorted them to the door, went in with a key, and came out with ten pounds of gold and a check worth nearly one hundred pounds. He even stayed with them until the bank opened and to Mr. Enfield's surprise, the check was legitimate.

Mr. Enfield recalls that the man was of an unpleasant nature, with a disfigurement of some sort, although there was nothing physically obvious. Mr. Enfield makes it plain that the man is of bad character, but apologetically hints to Mr. Utterson that the bearer of the check's signature is well known to him. Since the signature is of a respectable person, Mr. Enfield suspects some sort of bribery involved. He calls the place with the door, "Black Mail House." Mr. Utterson makes some inquiries, but Mr. Enfield says that he does not ask too many questions when things look suspicious, lest he actually discovers something dreadful. Mr. Enfield says,

"You start a question, and it's like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill; and away the stone goes, starting others; and presently some bland old bird (the last you would have thought of) is knocked on the head in his own back garden and the family have to change their name. No, sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask." Chapter 1, pg. 42-43

Mr. Utterson agrees with this assessment. But Mr. Enfield continues and says that he has studied the place. He has noticed that there is no one that goes in and about except for that strange gentleman. There is a chimney that is generally smoking, but "since the buildings are so packed together about the court, it's hard to say where one ends and another begins" (pg. 43).

Topic Tracking: Two-Faced 1

Mr. Utterson asks about the name of the mysterious man. Mr. Enfield says that it is Hyde. Mr. Enfield tries to describe what kind of man he is, but can only say what he said before--the there is something deeply disturbing about him. Mr. Utterson tells Mr. Enfield that he already knows the name of the bearer of the check, and inquires whether he has gotten the story correctly. Mr. Enfield insists that he has told it as is. They agree not to refer to this matter again.

Topic Tracking: Hidden 1

Chapter 2 - Search for Mr. Hyde

That evening, instead of his customary habit of reading after dinner, Mr. Utterson goes into his office and takes out a document from a safe that reads, Dr. Jekyll's Will. It states that upon the death of Henry Jekyll, all his possessions were to pass into the hands of Edward Hyde, but in the case of Dr. Jekyll's "disappearance or unexplained absence for any period exceeding three calendar months," Edward Hyde should step into Henry Jekyll's place. Mr. Utterson has long considered this will an act of madness and had no part in drafting it. He begins to think that something is amiss. For some answers, Mr. Utterson makes a trip to Cavendish Square, to the house of Dr. Lanyon, his long-time friend, and Dr. Jekyll's close colleague. There, he finds out Dr. Lanyon and Henry Jekyll had a falling out of sorts--over a scientific argument. And to his disappointment, Dr. Lanyon knows nothing about a man named Hyde.

In his sleep, Mr. Utterson tosses in bed all night, thinking and dreaming about the mysterious Hyde. He concludes that if he can only catch a glimpse of that face, much of the mystery surrounding Henry Jekyll and the mysterious will can be resolved. Mr. Utterson determines that night: "If he be Mr. Hyde, I shall be Mr. Seek" (pg. 49).

From then on, Mr. Utterson tries to locate Mr. Hyde, posting himself near the door at different hours of the day. Finally, one day around ten o'clock at night, Mr. Utterson sees a man about to enter the door. "Mr. Hyde, I think?" asks Mr. Utterson, confronting the stranger. Mr. Utterson introduces himself as Dr. Jekyll's friend. The man replies that Dr. Jekyll is not at home and asks how a stranger comes to know his name. Mr. Utterson asks to see his face and the man hesitates for a moment before defiantly revealing his face. The man gives Mr. Utterson his address in Soho and asks again how Mr. Utterson got his name. Mr. Utterson replies that he got it from Dr. Jekyll. The man accuses Mr. Utterson of lying and promptly disappears through the door. After this encounter, Mr. Utterson corroborates Mr. Enfield's queasy feelings about Hyde. He observes:

"The last I think; for, O poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend." Chapter 2, pg. 52

Topic Tracking: Evil 2

Mr. Utterson turns the corner and comes to the house of Dr. Jekyll. The old butler, Poole, answers the door. He tells Mr. Utterson that Dr. Jekyll is not in. Mr. Utterson asks whether it is proper for Hyde to go in and about the adjoining wing of the house that serves as a laboratory. Poole says that Dr. Jekyll has given Mr. Hyde the freedom to go in and out as he pleases. The servants are to obey the young man. Mr. Utterson leaves, speculating that Dr. Jekyll must be paying for the sins of his wilder youth (perhaps Hyde is the doctor's illegitimate child?). Mr. Utterson is humbled by the thoughts of his own past. Although blameless compared to most men, he still feels ashamed when he thinks of some of the forgettable things he has done in his life. Feeling sorry for his friend Jekyll, Mr. Utterson vows to uncover Hyde's evil plot. He fears that if Hyde becomes aware of the existence of the will, Dr. Jekyll's life might be in danger.

Topic Tracking: Hidden 2

Chapter 3 - Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease

A fortnight later, Dr. Jekyll invites some of his old friends over for dinner. Afterwards, Mr. Utterson stays behind. After a moment of silence, Mr. Utterson asks Dr. Jekyll about the will. First, the doctor tries to dismiss the subject by saying that the will is not worth distressing over. He mentions that the only other person more distressed about the will than Mr. Utterson is Dr. Lanyon. It is revealed that Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon have disagreed over scientific theories. The doctor tries to change the subject, but Mr. Utterson persists by stating that he does not approve of the will, especially concerning the part about Hyde. Dr. Jekyll confides incoherently:

"I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange--a very strange one. It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking." Chapter 3, pg. 57

Mr. Utterson pleads with his friend to say whether Hyde is putting him in an unfortunate position. Dr. Jekyll reassures Mr. Utterson that the situation is not as bad as it looks, that if he chose to, he could be rid of Hyde. Dr. Jekyll then makes a request not to talk about this any more, but says that Hyde is someone he takes a great interest in. He asks Mr. Utterson, if need be, to fulfill the obligations of the will. Though hesitant, Mr. Utterson promises to do his part.

Chapter 4 - The Carew Murder Case

A year later, a maid servant looking out her window before retiring to bed, witnesses a gruesome murder. She recalls seeing a kind looking elderly gentleman being clubbed to death by one she recognizes as Mr. Hyde. She faints and by the time she wakes and calls the police, the murderer is gone. Part of the cane with which he used to commit the hideous crime is left behind. On the victim is a sealed and stamped envelope with the name and address of Mr. Utterson. Next morning, as soon as Mr. Utterson gets notice of what happened, he goes to the police station and identifies the dead body as that of Sir Danvers Carew, his client. The officer shows Mr. Utterson the piece of the broken cane. Mr. Utterson recognizes it as a gift he had given Dr. Jekyll long ago. Mr. Utterson and the officer make their way to Mr. Hyde's address in Soho. Mr. Utterson notices the black fog as it envelops the slums of Soho. He is made aware of the irony that an heir of a quarter of a million sterling resides in the most despicable part of the city.

Topic Tracking: Evil 3

An old landlady opens the door and says that Mr. Hyde had been there that night, but is now gone. She tries to deny them entrance, but Mr. Utterson reminds her that he is with Inspector Newcomen of Scotland Yard. Inside the house, they find it sparsely, but tastefully decorated. It is also evident that the resident has been in haste, with random things lying about. They find a checkbook and the other end of the broken cane. The inspector notices that Hyde still has several thousand pounds in the bank. He is confident Mr. Hyde will show up to withdraw money from the bank. Mr. Hyde turns out to be elusive. Not many people knew him, he had never been photographed, and a few who saw him differed widely in describing what he was like, although they all agreed on one point--Hyde gives off an indescribable sense of deformity. As to his whereabouts, he seems to have just disappeared.

Topic Tracking: Hidden 3

Chapter 5 - Incident of the Letter

Mr. Utterson goes to see Dr. Jekyll, whereupon he is admitted in by Poole. Mr. Utterson is led across a yard, past the laboratory rooms, to where Dr. Jekyll is resting. He looks ill. Mr. Utterson gets straight to the point and asks whether he has heard the news about Carew. Dr. Jekyll explains:

"I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again. I bind my honour to you that I am done with him in this world. It is all at an end. And indeed he does not want my help; you do not know him as I do; he is safe, he is quite safe; mark my words, he will never more be heard of." Chapter 5, pg. 66

He tells Mr. Utterson about a letter (with Hyde's signature) he has received and asks the lawyer to do with it as he sees fit. The letter states that Dr. Jekyll's safety is assured because he (Hyde) has made his escape. Mr. Utterson asks whether it was Hyde who had dictated the terms of the will. The doctor nods reluctantly. As he is leaving, Mr. Utterson asks Poole about the messenger who delivered the letter. Poole insists that no messenger had come about. Mr. Utterson leaves, still fearful of his friend's well being.

The fog remains heavy upon London. That night, Mr. Utterson sits by the fire, his wine untouched. Present is his head clerk, Mr. Guest. Mr. Utterson decides to ask his clerk, a student and critic of handwriting, to assess Hyde's strange letter. Mr. Guest studies it intently. Just then, a servant enters with a dinner invitation from Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Guest asks to see Dr. Jekyll's note and compares it with Hyde's letter. The clerk concludes that the handwriting seems to be identical. Mr. Utterson agrees and tells Mr. Guest not to speak of the note. Mr. Guest assents.

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When he is alone, Mr. Utterson puts the letter in his safe. "Henry Jekyll forge for a murderer!" he exclaims to himself.

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Chapter 6 - Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon

Although there is a large reward out for Hyde and many details of his life are uncovered, the police have no clue as to his whereabouts. As more time passes, Mr. Utterson is relieved that Hyde seems to be gone. Dr. Jekyll begins to act like his former self--entertaining guests, getting involved in charities and religion, being generally at peace. For close to two months, Mr. Utterson spends a great deal of time with Dr. Jekyll and his recently reconciled friend, Dr. Lanyon. But one day, Mr. Utterson is suddenly turned away; Dr. Jekyll is not seeing visitors. After repeated attempts, Mr. Utterson goes to visit Dr. Lanyon and is surprised to find him in a deathly state. At first, Mr. Utterson thinks that his friend, being a doctor, is self-aware that his days are limited. But Dr. Lanyon speaks of being in shock about some matter he cannot recover from. Mr. Utterson mentions that Dr. Jekyll is also ill. Dr. Lanyon turns sour and refuses to speak about Dr. Jekyll. Dr. Lanyon is not surprised when told that Dr. Jekyll has refused to meet. He says:

"Some day, Utterson, after I am dead, you may perhaps come to learn the right and wrong of this. I cannot tell you." Chapter 6, pg. 73

Mr. Utterson writes a note to Dr. Jekyll, asking why he is being turned away, and about his sudden break with Dr. Lanyon. Dr. Jekyll replies that from now on, he will live a life of seclusion. He writes back cryptically, "If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also" (pg. 74). Mr. Utterson cannot understand how things have changed so suddenly. Without the presence of Hyde, Dr. Jekyll seemed to have recovered nicely. Now, life-long relationships are broken. Taking cue from what Dr. Lanyon said, Mr. Utterson is convinced there is some underlying reason for this.

A week later, Dr. Lanyon passes away. After the funeral, Mr. Utterson locks himself in his office and takes out an envelope prepared by his deceased friend. It reads, "Private: for the hands of G.J. Utterson ALONE, and in case of his predecease to be destroyed unread." In it is another letter with the words: "not to be opened till the death or disappearance of Dr. Henry Jekyll." Mr. Utterson quickly notices the words "disappearance," just like the will. Although he desires to get to the bottom of this mystery, professional honor prompts Mr. Utterson to put the letter back into his safe. Meanwhile, Mr. Utterson gets periodic reports from Poole regarding Dr. Jekyll's condition. Poole confesses that Dr. Jekyll is constantly confined to the laboratory and is often out of spirits. Because of the consistency of the reports, Mr. Utterson visits less frequently.

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Chapter 7 - Incident at the Window

On Sunday, Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield, taking their usual walk, come across the door again. Mr. Enfield regrets not having known before that this door was connected to Dr. Jekyll's residence. They step into the courtyard to see if they can catch a sight of Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Utterson is surprised to find Dr. Jekyll at the window. They exchange polite conversation. Mr. Utterson invites the doctor to join them for a walk. The doctor expresses remorse for not being able to go out, or even invite them in. In the middle of his reply, Dr. Jekyll's smile suddenly turns into something inexplicable. The window is promptly shut. Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield, both horrified, leave without a word. When they reach another neighborhood, Mr. Utterson finally breaks the silence. "God forgive us, God forgive us," is all he can utter. Mr. Enfield just nods his head in silence and walks on.

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Chapter 8 - The Last Night

One evening, Poole makes a surprise visit to Mr. Utterson and tells him that the doctor might be in trouble. Poole fears foul play. At Dr. Jekyll's house, all the servants are gathered in a room. Poole leads Mr. Utterson to the laboratory. The butler knocks on the door and announces Mr. Utterson's presence. The voice behind the door answers back that he cannot see anyone. Poole is sure it is not Dr. Jekyll's voice. Mr. Utterson agrees. The old lawyer, however, cannot make sense of a murderer who would remain locked up in a room. Poole recounts that for the past week, there has been a persistent cry for a certain medicine. Poole has been to different chemists around the city, looking for the elusive order of some kind of salt. Mr. Utterson looks at one of the orders. It is an urgent request for the same sample that was purchased some time ago. Poole tells Mr. Utterson that he had seen someone in the laboratory digging among the crates. The person looked up at Poole, let out a cry and ran upstairs. Poole says,

"It was for one minute that I saw him, but the hair stood upon my head like quills. Sir, if that was my master, why had he a mask upon his face?" Chapter 8, pg. 84

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Mr. Utterson concludes that Dr. Jekyll must be suffering from some malady, from which he desperately needs a cure. Poole is certain, however, that the person he saw was not his master--perhaps his murderer. Mr. Utterson determines to break down the door to find out. Knowing that they might be in danger, the two men take up an axe and a kitchen poker. Poole confesses that he feels the masked figure to be Mr. Hyde. Mr. Utterson agrees, saying,

"My fears incline to the same point. Evil, I fear, founded--evil was sure to come--of that connection. Ay truly, I believe you; I derer (for what purpose, God alone can tell) is still lurking in his victim's room. Well, let our name be vengeance." Chapter 8, pg. 87

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Mr. Utterson calls for the footman, Bradshaw, to take post at the rear laboratory door lest the suspect attempts an escape. After ten minutes, Mr. Utterson warns the person behind the door that he is coming in by force. They hear Hyde's voice asking for mercy. Poole strikes the door with the axe. They hear a screech as from an animal. After the fifth strike of the axe, the door falls. They find on the floor a body, still twitching. Turned over, they see the face of Edward Hyde. He is wearing Dr. Jekyll's oversized clothes. It seems as though the man had taken his own life. They search for Dr. Jekyll, but there are no signs of his presence. An examination of the room shows traces of unfinished chemical work, the kettle still boiling and a copy of an experiment book opened. They also come upon a cheval-glass. "This glass has seen some strange things, sir," whispers Poole (pg. 91). On the business table, they find an envelope addressed to Mr. Utterson. When opened, several enclosures fall out. One is the will, similar in content, with the exception of the name "Edward Hyde" being replaced with the name "Gabriel John Utterson." Another is a letter written by Dr. Jekyll addressed also to Mr. Utterson. It suggests that Mr. Utterson read Dr. Lanyon's letter first, and if further clarification is needed, to read his confession.

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Chapter 9 - Dr. Lanyon's Narrative

Mr. Utterson reads Dr. Lanyon's letter. On the ninth of January, Dr. Lanyon receives a letter from his colleague and old school companion, Dr. Jekyll. This desperate sounding letter states that although they have differed on scientific questions, their affection for each other is still intact. Thus, Dr. Jekyll asks Dr. Lanyon to go over to his laboratory and bring back some contents in his cabinet (some powders, a phial, and a book). A man presenting himself in Dr. Jekyll's name would arrive and receive the contents.

Upon reading the letter, Dr. Lanyon, although he thinks his colleague insane, fulfills the request. That night, a small man comes to pick up the materials. Dr. Lanyon describes him as odd, with clothes too big and a deformed way about him. Dr. Lanyon offers the man a seat, but he insists on the contents. As soon as he gets his hands on them, he mixes up a strange brew. Before drinking, he warns Dr. Lanyon of the unbelievable event he is about to behold. When the man takes a drink, he starts to undergo a series of physical changes. Upon witnessing the transformation, Dr. Lanyon writes:

"O God!" I screamed, and "O God!" again and again; for there before my eyes--pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death--there stood Henry Jekyll!" Chapter 9, pg. 102

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Dr. Lanyon concludes by stating that he still cannot fully believe what he saw that night. He feels that his days are numbered, that he continues to experience the horror of witnessing Hyde's transformation into Dr. Jekyll.

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Chapter 10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

For the benefit of his friend, Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll leaves a testimonial confession.

Jekyll was born to fortune and as a doctor, was guaranteed a high position in life. Even as a young man, however, Jekyll had a penchant for base pleasures. Although he seemed respectable in public, he wanted to live a life of duplicity. With such a view, his scientific experiments turned mystic and transcendental. From his ideas, he observed,

"With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two." Chapter 10, pg. 104

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In his desire to separate the two sides of his nature--good and evil--Jekyll musters up the courage to test his theory of man. The first time he drinks the potion, he describes a transformation that is physical, mental, and even a bit spiritual. In this new life, he feels the essence of his evil nature. Jekyll theorizes that the bodily representation of Hyde is smaller because his evil side is not as developed as his life of effort and virtue. In looking at the mirror, he feels that the Hyde nature is the livelier and more natural one than his Jekyll side. In short, Edward Hyde, "alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil" (pg. 108). He drinks the concoction once more and turns back into the respectable Henry Jekyll.

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At this moment, he is at a crossroads--what should he do with this profound, new knowledge? He succumbs to the possibilities of living a life outside of his dry, old self. He prepares by finding a place in Soho, creating an identity of Hyde, and drafting the will to protect himself against financial loss in case something happens his Dr. Jekyll side. As Hyde, what begins as adventures in depravity turns more and more monstrous. Although there are incidents to cause suspicion (e.g. the accident with the little girl), he is able to cover his tracks. Yet, as time passes, it seems as though the Hyde character is taking greater hold of his life. In addition, he finds that he must increase the dosage of the drug to gain the desired effects. Sooner or later, he has to choose between the two, Jekyll or Hyde. About their relatedness, he writes, "Jekyll had more than a father's interest; Hyde had more than a son's indifference" (pg. 114).

Jekyll chooses to cast off Hyde. But he does not get rid of Hyde's place in Soho and his clothes. For two months, a determined Jekyll tries to live the wholesome life of the doctor. But he is tortured by the longings of Hyde, who lives free of the constricting boundaries of proper society. He finally succumbs and drinks the potion again. This time, the effect of the change is stronger than ever. In a mad rage, the transformed Hyde kills Sir Danvers Carew. Afterwards, in tears of repentance, Henry Jekyll undergoes a torment of the spirit. Now that it is dangerous to be Hyde, he feels that his torment is over. So for a couple of months, Dr. Jekyll attempts to redeem himself by working hard to relieve the suffering of others. But eventually, he cannot completely escape from his corrupted nature.

One day, as he is sitting on a park bench, he thinks about his good deeds and compares himself with others. At that moment of pride, he finds that he is unexpectedly changed from Dr. Jekyll to Edward Hyde. Fearful of being caught and in need of the drug, the transformed Hyde writes a desperate letter to Dr. Lanyon, in Dr. Jekyll's hand, requesting the materials for the drug. Hyde is more visibly evil when he is threatened. The letter states: "That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred" (pg. 120).

After the episode with Dr. Lanyon, Jekyll finds it increasingly difficult to maintain his old self. Even with increased dosage, he constantly faces the risk of turning back into Hyde. Now, with the salt running low, Jekyll sends Poole all over London to look for the same type as the original. The new salt is ineffective. Jekyll figures that the impurity of the first batch made the drug work. Jekyll has nearly lost hope. He looks in the mirror and realizes that he may never be Jekyll again. He even fears that this letter will be destroyed if, in the act of writing, he turns into Hyde. So Jekyll does what he feels is the only thing left to do to rid of Hyde--kill himself. Jekyll concludes:

"Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end." Chapter 10, pg. 124

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