Chapters 4-6 Analysis

Chapter 4: The Carew Murder Case

Summary: What Happens?

• Nearly a year later, a maid witnesses a brutal murder.
• Sir Danvers Carew, a respected gentleman, is beaten to death with a cane by Hyde.
• The police find a letter addressed to Utterson on Carew's body.
• Utterson leads the police to Hyde's apartment, where they discover:
  • The murder weapon (a broken cane belonging to Jekyll).
  • Hyde has disappeared, leaving behind half of a burned chequebook.

Key Themes

• Violence and Evil – Hyde's brutality shows his complete lack of morality.
• Secrecy and Guilt – Hyde vanishes, hiding his connection to Jekyll.
• Duality of Human Nature – The respectable Jekyll is tied to a monstrous act.

Key Quote

"With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim underfoot." – Narrator

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Chapter 5: The Incident of the Letter

Summary: What Happens?

• Utterson visits Jekyll, who appears physically sick and shaken.

• Jekyll swears he is done with Hyde and gives Utterson a letter supposedly from Hyde, claiming he has fled.

• Utterson asks Poole (Jekyll's servant) about Hyde's handwriting.

• Mr Guest, a handwriting expert, compares the letter to Jekyll's writing and finds them suspiciously similar.

  

• Utterson begins to suspect that Jekyll forged the letter to protect Hyde.

Key Themes

• Deception and Secrets – Jekyll tries to cover up his connection to Hyde.
• Reputation vs. Reality – Jekyll is desperate to protect his name.
• Guilt and Consequence – Jekyll's physical illness reflects his internal turmoil.

Key Quote

"Henry Jekyll forge for a murderer! And his blood ran cold in his veins." – Utterson

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Chapter 6: Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

Summary: What Happens?

• Jekyll seems happier for a while, hosting dinner parties again.
• Suddenly, Jekyll isolates himself, refusing to see visitors.
• Utterson visits Dr Lanyon, who is on his deathbed and refuses to talk about Jekyll.
• Lanyon gives Utterson a sealed letter, instructing him not to open it until after Jekyll's death.
• Jekyll writes to Utterson, saying he is undergoing severe changes and must live in isolation.
• Lanyon dies, leaving Utterson even more disturbed.

Key Themes

• Science and Forbidden Knowledge – Lanyon witnesses something so horrifying it kills him.
• Mystery and Suspense – Lanyon's letter and Jekyll's isolation deepen the novel's intrigue.
• The Cost of Secrecy – Jekyll's experiments are destroying his friendships and health.

Key Quote

"I have had a shock from which I shall never recover." – Lanyon

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Key Themes Across Chapters 4-6

1. The Horrors of Hyde – His violence escalates, showing his complete detachment from morality.
2. Guilt and Secrecy – Jekyll is tormented by his connection to Hyde.
3. Science vs. Consequences – Lanyon's horror hints at Jekyll's unnatural experiments.
4. The Breakdown of Jekyll – His mental and physical state deteriorates.
5. The Mystery Deepens – Suspense builds around Lanyon's letter and Jekyll's transformation.

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Exam Tips

• Be able to identify key quotes and explain their significance.
• Understand how Stevenson builds suspense in these chapters.
• Discuss the contrast between Jekyll and Hyde, especially in relation to violence and guilt.
• Consider how Lanyon's death foreshadows later revelations.
• Structure essay responses clearly with introduction, body, and conclusion.

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