Chapter 1 - Chapter 6 (Scottish Highers English): Revision Notes

Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

Chapter 1: Story of the door

Introduction to Mr. Utterson

The narrative begins by establishing Mr. Utterson as the moral centre of the story. He is presented as a wealthy, well-respected London lawyer whose character appears contradictory. Although described as reserved and potentially boring, he inspires an unusual fondness in those who know him. This paradox immediately suggests that superficial appearances can be misleading.

Utterson's most defining characteristic is his loyalty. Despite his position in respectable society, he never abandons a friend whose reputation has been damaged. This detail establishes him as the ideal narrator for a story about reputation and scandal. His professional discretion and personal loyalty make him both a trustworthy observer and a man who will be drawn into moral complexity.

The Sunday walk and the neglected building

Utterson maintains a close friendship with Mr. Enfield, described as his distant relative and another respectable London gentleman. The two men appear to have little in common, yet they treasure their weekly Sunday walks. During these strolls, they often walk considerable distances without speaking, yet they regard these walks as highlights of their week. This silence between two friends creates an atmosphere of unspoken understanding and suggests that both men observe more than they discuss.

During one such walk, they encounter a neglected building that stands out in an otherwise prosperous-looking street. The building's decay in a wealthy neighbourhood creates an immediate sense of something wrong, something that does not belong. This physical description mirrors the story's central theme: the intrusion of something corrupt into respectable society.

Enfield's story: the trampling incident

Enfield relates a disturbing incident he witnessed in this neighbourhood late one night. He saw a shrunken, misshapen man crash into and trample a young girl. The attacker's physical description immediately marks him as abnormal and threatening. Enfield caught the man before he could escape and brought him back to where the girl lay, surrounded by an angry crowd.

The crowd's response to the captured man is immediate and instinctive: "The captured man appeared so overwhelmingly ugly that the crowd immediately despised him." This reaction goes beyond rational judgment. The man's ugliness provokes a visceral hatred that unites the crowd. Stevenson uses this response to explore how physical appearance can trigger moral judgment, and how evil might manifest itself in outward form.

The crowd threatens to ruin the man's reputation unless he makes amends. Trapped, the man agrees to pay £100 in compensation. He obtains this money by entering the neglected building through its only door. When he emerges with a cheque, Enfield notices something strange: the cheque bears the name of a very respectable man, yet it proves to be genuine rather than forged.

The mystery deepens

Enfield cannot explain the nature of the man's ugliness. He states: "I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why." This inability to articulate the source of his revulsion becomes a recurring motif. The statement suggests that Hyde's evil operates beyond rational understanding, affecting observers on an instinctive level that cannot be put into words.

Enfield hypothesizes that the ugly man must have blackmailed the respectable gentleman whose name appeared on the cheque. This theory introduces the theme of hidden connections between respectability and corruption. However, Enfield refuses to reveal the name on the cheque, demonstrating the Victorian value of discretion.

When Utterson asks questions about the incident, Enfield divulges that the culprit's name was Hyde. At this revelation, Utterson declares that he knows the man and can guess the name on the cheque. The two men, having just discussed the virtue of minding one's own business, agree never to speak of the matter again. This agreement to remain silent, even when deeply troubled, reflects the period's emphasis on privacy and the dangers of suppressing important truths.

Chapter 2: Search for Mr. Hyde

Jekyll's will

Prompted by his conversation with Enfield, Utterson returns home to examine a will he drew up for his close friend Dr. Jekyll. The will contains unusual terms: in the event of Jekyll's death or disappearance, all his property should pass immediately to Mr. Edward Hyde. The document has long troubled Utterson, but now that he has heard about Hyde's violent behaviour, his concern intensifies.

Utterson becomes convinced that Hyde holds some peculiar power over Jekyll, perhaps through blackmail.

Visit to Dr. Lanyon

Seeking to understand the mystery, Utterson visits Dr. Lanyon, an old friend of Jekyll's. This consultation proves revealing in what it fails to uncover. Lanyon has never heard of Hyde, which confirms that Hyde operates in complete secrecy from Jekyll's respectable circle. More significantly, Lanyon reveals that he has fallen out with Jekyll over a professional disagreement.

Lanyon dismisses Jekyll's recent research as "unscientific balderdash". This phrase indicates a fundamental split between the two doctors. Lanyon represents orthodox medical science, whilst Jekyll has pursued research that his colleague views as dangerously unscientific. This divide foreshadows the revelation that Jekyll has moved beyond accepted scientific boundaries.

Utterson's nightmares

That night, Utterson experiences disturbing nightmares. In these dreams, a faceless man runs down a child, and the same terrifying figure stands beside Jekyll's bed commanding him to rise. The facelessness of Hyde in these nightmares reflects Utterson's inability to fully imagine or understand the threat. The image of Hyde beside Jekyll's bed suggests intimate control, with Hyde commanding Jekyll rather than the reverse.

These nightmares drive Utterson to action. He begins spending time near the run-down building where Enfield saw Hyde enter, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man.

The first meeting with Hyde

Eventually, Hyde appears: a small young man who keeps his head down when Utterson introduces himself as a friend of Henry Jekyll. When Utterson asks to see Hyde's face, Hyde complies. Like Enfield before him, Utterson feels appalled and horrified yet cannot identify exactly what makes Hyde so ugly. This shared inability to articulate Hyde's deformity suggests something fundamentally wrong that cannot be captured in ordinary language.

Hyde then volunteers his address to Utterson. The lawyer interprets this action as a sign that Hyde eagerly anticipates Jekyll's death and the execution of his will. Hyde's willingness to be found indicates confidence that he will soon inherit Jekyll's fortune.

The laboratory's connection

After meeting Hyde, Utterson visits Jekyll but finds him absent. During this visit, he learns what he has known all along: the run-down building that Hyde frequents is actually a laboratory attached to Jekyll's well-kept townhouse. The respectable house faces one street whilst the neglected laboratory faces another, creating a physical representation of Jekyll's double life.

Jekyll's butler, Mr. Poole, reveals that Hyde has a key to the laboratory and that all servants have orders to obey him. This information confirms that Jekyll has given Hyde considerable authority and access. Utterson leaves deeply troubled, assuming that Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll, perhaps over wrongdoings from Jekyll's youth.

Chapter 3: Dr. Jekyll was quite at ease

The dinner party

Two weeks after Utterson's investigation begins, Jekyll hosts a well-attended dinner party. The gathering suggests that Jekyll remains integrated into respectable society. Utterson deliberately stays late so that he and Jekyll can speak privately about the troubling matter of Hyde.

The private conversation

When Utterson mentions the will, Jekyll attempts to make light of the topic, but his manner changes dramatically when Utterson reveals that he has been "learning something of young Hyde". Jekyll turns pale at this news, showing that his connection to Hyde is a source of fear and anxiety.

Jekyll attempts to reassure Utterson, making several important claims. He states that the situation with Hyde is exceptional and cannot be resolved through discussion. This refusal to explain suggests either that Jekyll cannot reveal the truth or that the truth is too extraordinary to be believed.

Despite claiming he could end the relationship, Jekyll emphasizes his great interest in Hyde and his desire to continue providing for him. This contradiction reveals Jekyll's conflicted state: he knows he should separate from Hyde, yet he remains unwilling to do so. He makes Utterson promise to carry out the will exactly as written, ensuring that Hyde will be protected even after Jekyll's death or disappearance.

Chapter 4: The Carew murder case

The murder

Approximately one year passes, during which Hyde apparently behaves himself. Then, in the early hours of one morning, a maid sitting at her window witnesses a brutal murder. She sees a small, evil-looking man whom she recognizes as Mr. Hyde encounter a polite, elderly gentleman in the street below.

When the gentleman offers Hyde a greeting, Hyde responds with sudden, extreme violence. He turns on the gentleman with a stick, beating him to death. The unprovoked nature of this attack, triggered merely by a polite greeting, demonstrates Hyde's capacity for irrational violence. The victim's politeness makes the attack even more shocking and senseless.

Identification of the victim

The police discover a letter addressed to Utterson on the dead body, which brings the lawyer into the investigation. He identifies the victim as Sir Danvers Carew, a popular member of Parliament and one of his clients. Carew's high social standing makes the murder a matter of public scandal and intense police interest. The killing of such a prominent figure threatens the social order itself.

Investigation at Hyde's residence

Utterson still has Hyde's address from their previous meeting, and he accompanies the police to Hyde's rooms. The lodgings are located in a poor, evil-looking part of town. Utterson reflects on the oddity that a man living in such squalor is the heir to Henry Jekyll's considerable fortune. This contrast between Hyde's actual poverty and his anticipated wealth reinforces the mystery of his relationship with Jekyll.

Hyde's landlady is described as villainous-looking, suggesting that Hyde attracts and is attracted to degraded surroundings. However, the suspected murderer is not at home. The police find two important pieces of evidence: the murder weapon and the burned remains of Hyde's checkbook. These discoveries confirm Hyde's guilt whilst suggesting he has attempted to destroy evidence linking him to Jekyll.

Hyde's disappearance

Following a visit to the bank, the police inspector learns that Hyde still maintains an account there. The officer assumes he need only wait for Hyde to withdraw money. However, days and weeks pass with no sign of Hyde. He appears to have vanished completely.

Hyde has no traceable family, no friends, and those who have seen him cannot provide accurate descriptions. Witnesses disagree on details but agree only on the evil aspect of his appearance. This consensus about Hyde's evil nature, despite disagreement on specifics, suggests that Hyde's wrongness manifests in a way that transcends ordinary physical description.

Chapter 5: Incident of the letter

Jekyll's state

Utterson visits Jekyll, whom he finds in his laboratory looking deathly ill. This physical deterioration suggests that Hyde's disappearance has affected Jekyll profoundly. Jekyll feverishly claims that Hyde has left and that their relationship has ended. He also assures Utterson that the police will never find Hyde, a statement that proves accurate but which should raise questions about how Jekyll can be so certain.

The mysterious letter

Jekyll shows Utterson a letter, asking what he should do with it since he fears it could damage his reputation if he gives it to the police. The letter is ostensibly 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.

The letter's tone is strange. Hyde, a murderer on the run, takes time to thank Jekyll for his generosity and to reassure him. This suggests an unusual relationship between the two men that goes beyond simple blackmail or business arrangement.

Utterson asks whether Hyde dictated the terms of Jekyll's will, especially its unusual provision for Jekyll's "disappearance". Jekyll confirms that Hyde did dictate these terms. Utterson tells Jekyll that Hyde probably intended to murder him and that he has narrowly escaped this fate. This interpretation seems logical given Hyde's violence, but it misunderstands the true relationship between Jekyll and Hyde.

The handwriting analysis

As Utterson leaves, he encounters Poole, the butler, and asks him to describe the man who delivered the letter. Poole appears taken aback and claims to have no knowledge of any letters being delivered except the usual mail. This response indicates that no messenger brought the letter from outside, raising the disturbing question of where it actually came from.

That evening, Utterson consults his trusted clerk, Mr. Guest, described as an expert on handwriting. Guest compares Hyde's letter with samples of Jekyll's own writing and makes a shocking discovery.

Chapter 6: Remarkable incident of Dr. Lanyon

Jekyll's recovery

As time passes with no sign of Hyde's return, Jekyll appears to recover. He becomes healthier-looking and more sociable, devoting himself to charity work. To Utterson's observation, the removal of Hyde's evil influence has had a tremendously positive effect on Jekyll. This improvement suggests that Jekyll and Hyde cannot coexist peacefully, and that Jekyll thrives only when Hyde is suppressed.

After two months of this improved lifestyle, Jekyll holds a dinner party attended by both Utterson and Lanyon. The three men talk together as old friends, apparently reconciled. This restoration of friendship appears to signal Jekyll's complete return to respectable society.

Jekyll's sudden isolation

A few days after this promising dinner party, Utterson calls on Jekyll but Poole reports that his master is receiving no visitors. This rejection continues for a week, with Jekyll refusing to see anyone. The abrupt return to isolation, immediately after social engagement, suggests a crisis or relapse that Jekyll cannot control.

Lanyon's deteriorating health

Concerned about Jekyll's withdrawal, Utterson visits Lanyon, hoping to learn why Jekyll has refused all company. He discovers Lanyon in very poor health: pale, sickly, with a frightened look in his eyes. The dramatic change in Lanyon's condition indicates that something shocking has occurred.

Lanyon explains that he has suffered a great shock and expects to die in a few weeks. His statement reveals not just physical illness but a profound psychological trauma. He says: "[L]ife has been pleasant. I liked it; yes, sir, I used to like it." The past tense in this reflection shows that Lanyon's pleasure in life has been destroyed by recent knowledge.

The break with Jekyll

When Utterson mentions that Jekyll also seems ill, Lanyon responds violently, demanding that they discuss anything but Jekyll. He refuses to explain the cause of their break but promises that after his death, Utterson may learn the truth about everything. This dramatic reaction confirms that Jekyll is connected to the shock that has destroyed Lanyon's health and will to live.

Jekyll's response

Utterson writes to Jekyll, asking about being turned away from his house and inquiring what caused the break with Lanyon. Jekyll's written reply acknowledges that while he still cares for Lanyon, he understands why they must not meet. This acceptance suggests that Jekyll knows what has horrified Lanyon and accepts the consequences.

As for himself, Jekyll pledges his continued affection for Utterson but states that from now on he will maintain strict seclusion, seeing no one. He says that he is suffering a punishment that he cannot name. This reference to an unnamed punishment suggests guilt and a curse that Jekyll cannot articulate or escape.

Lanyon's death and sealed letter

Lanyon dies a few weeks later, fulfilling his own prophecy. After the funeral, Utterson retrieves a letter that Lanyon left for him to read after his death. Inside, he finds only another envelope, marked to remain sealed until Jekyll also has died.

Out of professional principle, Utterson overcomes his curiosity and secures the envelope without reading it. This restraint demonstrates his integrity but also means that knowledge which might help Jekyll remains hidden. As weeks pass, Utterson visits Jekyll less and less frequently, and the butler continues to refuse him entry, suggesting Jekyll's increasing isolation and deterioration.