Structure and Narrative (Scottish Highers English): Revision Notes
Structure and Narrative
The narrative perspective creates distance and suspense
Stevenson structures most of the novel as a third-person narrative that follows the lawyer Gabriel Utterson. A third-person narrative uses 'he', 'she' and 'they' rather than 'I'. This perspective is limited, which means Utterson discovers information gradually and only learns the full truth at the end of the novel. By keeping the reader at a distance from the events, Stevenson creates tension and makes the mystery more intriguing.
Utterson is described as having an "approved tolerance for others". This detail matters because it encourages the reader to trust his judgement. He appears rational and unbiased, so his interpretations seem reliable. However, there are many aspects of the case that he cannot explain. This gap between what Utterson knows and what the reader wants to know generates suspense throughout the narrative.
The main narrative follows events in chronological order. This linear structure creates a sense of time passing, which increases tension. As weeks and months go by without answers, the reader feels the pressure building alongside Utterson's growing concern.
The final two chapters break from this linear structure. Instead of moving forward in time, they return to explain events that happened earlier. By withholding these explanations until the very end, Stevenson maintains suspense throughout the entire novel. The reader must wait to understand what has really been happening.
Embedded narratives add authenticity and mystery
An embedded narrative is a story within the main narrative. Stevenson includes several embedded narratives in the novel, which take different forms. Some are written documents, such as Dr Lanyon's letter and Dr Jekyll's statement. Others are spoken testimonies from characters like Mr Enfield. Each embedded narrative provides a piece of evidence in what feels like an investigation.
These multiple perspectives make the story more realistic. Even though some events seem impossible, the fact that different characters report what they have seen or heard makes the narrative feel more authentic. This sense of realism makes the horror more frightening. The reader encounters different voices and viewpoints, which mirrors how information emerges in a real investigation.
Examples of embedded narratives
Enfield's Encounter at the Door
Enfield tells Utterson about his encounter at the mysterious door. He introduces this account by calling it "a very odd story", which immediately captures the reader's interest. This narrative is the first hint that something strange connects Jekyll and Hyde, setting up the central mystery.
The Maid's Account of the Carew Murder
The murder of Sir Danvers Carew is reported through a maid's account. She is described as "romantically given", suggesting she is emotional and imaginative. After witnessing the violent attack, she faints. These details indicate that her perspective has limitations. The reader feels removed from the actual events and cannot be certain how accurate her testimony is. This uncertainty adds to the unsettling atmosphere.
Dr Lanyon's Written Narrative
Dr Lanyon's narrative is mostly written in formal, measured language. This controlled tone makes his account seem more credible, which matters because he provides the first description of Jekyll transforming into Hyde. However, even Lanyon's narrative has limitations. He refuses to write down everything he heard, leaving gaps that frustrate the reader's desire for complete knowledge.
Hyde himself is never given a voice in the narrative. He is excluded from directly telling his story, just as he is excluded from respectable society. This absence makes him seem more mysterious and threatening. The reader only encounters Hyde through other characters' observations, never gaining access to his thoughts or motivations.
The novel's full title is 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. The word 'case' and the chapter titles (which refer to 'incidents' and 'statements') create the impression of a legal investigation. This framing contrasts with the fantastical nature of Hyde's existence, making the impossible seem more real.
Each embedded narrative functions like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. The reader needs all the pieces to work out Jekyll's secret. By presenting information in fragments, Stevenson keeps the reader curious and engaged.
Written documents reveal and conceal information
Stevenson uses written documents to control how much information different characters receive. These documents make the narrative feel more realistic because different people reveal different parts of the story. They also increase suspense by revealing information gradually. The narrative becomes fragmented through these documents. Each one offers hints without providing the complete picture.
Stevenson also suggests that the reader should question whether these written documents can be trusted. The authors of these documents often behave secretively, which raises doubts about their reliability.
Jekyll's will
The Function of Jekyll's Will
This legal document marks the starting point of Utterson's investigation into Mr Hyde. As a will, it serves as authentic evidence linking Jekyll to Hyde. However, it also raises disturbing questions. Enfield's story has already indicated that Hyde is a shady character. It seems strange that Jekyll, a respected gentleman, would leave everything to someone so disreputable. This contradiction creates unease and drives Utterson's curiosity.
Hyde's letter to Jekyll
The Misleading Letter
Jekyll gives this letter to Utterson after the Carew murder, claiming Hyde sent it. At first, Utterson feels reassured because the letter appears to show that Hyde is not blackmailing Jekyll. However, his "fears renewed" when Poole insists the letter was not delivered as Jekyll claimed. This detail adds intrigue and suggests deception.
When Guest examines the handwriting, Utterson concludes that Jekyll must be forging documents to protect Hyde. This interpretation is misleading. The reader only discovers later that Hyde and Jekyll are the same person, so of course their handwriting matches. This letter demonstrates how Stevenson carefully misdirects both Utterson and the reader.
Carew's letter to Utterson
This letter is found on Carew's body after his murder. The reader never discovers what was written in it. Stevenson deliberately leaves these gaps in the narrative to increase the reader's suspicions and sense that something is being hidden.
"'This is a strange note,' said Mr Utterson."
Utterson's reaction to reading one of these documents captures his persistent feeling that something is not quite right. Victorian readers, unlike many modern readers, would not have known Jekyll's secret in advance. They would have experienced the same frustration as Utterson, waiting until the final chapters for answers.
Jekyll's statement provides answers but raises questions
Jekyll's statement forms the final chapter of the novel. It recaps everything that has already happened, but this time presented in chronological order. The statement goes back to before Utterson's narrative began and continues until shortly before Hyde's death. This is the first time that previous events have been fully explained from Jekyll's perspective.
Stevenson uses a first-person narrative for this statement, employing 'I' to show Jekyll's personal experience. This perspective makes sense because Jekyll is the only character who knows the whole truth. The first-person viewpoint gives the reader direct access to his thoughts and feelings, finally revealing what has been hidden throughout the novel.
Questions of Narrative Reliability
The word 'statement' suggests an unbiased, factual report. However, the reader might find it difficult to completely trust what Jekyll writes. He has already demonstrated that he is capable of deceiving people, even his closest friends. He has lied and hidden the truth repeatedly. Additionally, Jekyll leaves some details unexplained, such as the exact contents of his potion. These omissions may be deliberate evasions or genuine gaps in his knowledge, but either way, they mean the reader does not receive complete information even in this final confession.
Key Points to Remember:
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Stevenson uses a third-person limited narrative following Utterson to create distance from the truth and build suspense throughout the novel.
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The chronological structure of most of the narrative creates tension as time passes, while the final two chapters break this pattern to explain earlier events.
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Embedded narratives (stories within the main story) make the novel feel more authentic and realistic, even when events seem impossible. Examples include Enfield's account, the maid's testimony, and Lanyon's letter.
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Written documents such as Jekyll's will and various letters gradually reveal information while also raising questions, keeping the reader in suspense.
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Jekyll's final first-person statement provides answers but also raises questions about reliability, since Jekyll has already shown he is capable of deception.