Chapter 2 Analysis (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
Chapter 2 Analysis
Introduction to chapter 2: "Search for Mr Hyde"
Chapter 2, titled "Search for Mr Hyde – That evening and later that evening," serves as a crucial turning point in Stevenson's novella. This chapter represents the rising action of the story, where Utterson's concerns about Jekyll's relationship with Hyde begin to intensify and drive the narrative forwards.
The chapter title itself creates a sense of urgency and pursuit, with the time references "that evening and later that evening" suggesting the compressed timeframe of Utterson's investigation.
The chapter explores Utterson's growing unease after his conversation with Enfield, leading him to examine Jekyll's will and ultimately encounter the mysterious Mr Hyde face-to-face. This meeting sets up the central conflict that will dominate the rest of the story.
Plot development and rising action
The chapter begins with Utterson returning home, deeply troubled by what Enfield has told him about the incident with the child. Upon examining Dr Jekyll's will, Utterson discovers a disturbing provision: should Jekyll disappear or die, all his possessions must be transferred to Mr Hyde. This revelation transforms Utterson's mild concern into active worry.
The will is the key plot device that drives Utterson's investigation. Without this discovery, he might never have pursued the truth about Hyde's relationship with Jekyll. The unusual terms of the will suggest either blackmail or an unhealthy obsession.
Seeking answers, Utterson visits his old friend Dr Lanyon, hoping to learn more about Hyde. However, Lanyon reveals that he and Jekyll have been estranged for over ten years due to fundamental disagreements about scientific methodology. Lanyon dismisses Jekyll's recent work as "unscientific balderdash" and uses harsh language, calling Jekyll's pursuits "devilish."
The lawyer then begins watching Jekyll's laboratory door, hoping to encounter Hyde. When this meeting finally occurs, Utterson is deeply unsettled by Hyde's appearance and demeanour. Hyde appears confident and defiant, even providing his address, which Utterson interprets as evidence that Hyde knows about the will.
The chapter concludes with Utterson visiting Jekyll's home, where he learns from the butler Poole that Hyde has a key to the laboratory and that all servants have been instructed to obey him. This revelation deepens Utterson's suspicions that Hyde may be blackmailing Jekyll.
Major themes explored
Loyalty and friendship
The theme of loyalty becomes central to this chapter through Utterson's unwavering dedication to Jekyll's welfare. Despite his growing concerns, Utterson demonstrates true friendship by actively investigating the situation rather than simply gossiping about it. He shows his loyalty by examining the will carefully and seeking information that might help protect Jekyll from what he perceives as Hyde's evil influence.
Demonstration of Loyalty: Utterson's Actions
Utterson's loyalty is shown through specific actions:
- Examining the will privately - He doesn't discuss its contents with others
- Seeking information from Lanyon - He tries to understand Jekyll's situation
- Watching the laboratory door - He takes personal time to investigate
- Confronting Hyde directly - He faces potential danger for Jekyll's sake
The breakdown of Jekyll and Lanyon's friendship also illustrates how intellectual differences can destroy personal relationships. Their professional disagreement about scientific methods has created a permanent rift, showing how loyalty can be tested when fundamental beliefs conflict.
Science versus religion and the supernatural
This chapter introduces the crucial tension between traditional scientific methods and Jekyll's experimental approaches. Lanyon represents conventional medical practice, viewing Jekyll's work as dangerously unorthodox. His use of religious language like "devilish" suggests he sees Jekyll's experiments as morally wrong, possibly even evil.
The Victorian era was a time of great scientific advancement but also religious uncertainty. Many people struggled to reconcile new scientific discoveries with traditional Christian beliefs, which Stevenson reflects in this conflict.
The conflict reflects broader Victorian anxieties about scientific progress and its potential moral implications. Lanyon's discomfort with Jekyll's "metaphysical science" suggests fear that some scientific pursuits might cross into supernatural or immoral territory.
Tone analysis
Stevenson employs three distinct tones throughout this chapter to convey different character perspectives and emotional states:
Disgust dominates Utterson's reaction to Hyde's physical appearance. The lawyer's visceral response to Hyde creates an atmosphere of revulsion and unease that pervades their encounter.
Indifference characterises Lanyon's attitude towards Jekyll. Years of professional disagreement have created emotional distance, and Lanyon speaks about his former friend with detached coolness.
Curiosity drives Utterson's investigation throughout the chapter. His lawyer's instincts and genuine concern for Jekyll motivate his persistent questioning and surveillance of the laboratory door.
These three tones work together to create a complex emotional landscape that reflects the different relationships and perspectives within the story. Notice how Stevenson uses tone to reveal character rather than simply telling us about their feelings.
Figurative language and literary techniques
Stevenson employs various literary devices to create atmosphere and develop character understanding:
Metaphor examples
The author uses metaphors to convey emotional states and relationships. When Utterson sits "with a clouded brow," his facial expression reflects his troubled mental state, comparing his worried appearance to an overcast sky. The phrase about stepping "into Henry Jekyll's shoes" suggests the intimate understanding required to truly comprehend someone else's situation.
Metaphor Analysis: "The lawyer's eyesore"
Jekyll's will is described as "the lawyer's eyesore," metaphorically comparing the document to something physically painful to look at.
Effect: This metaphor emphasises how deeply the will troubles Utterson, making his emotional discomfort tangible and relatable to readers.
Personification techniques
Stevenson brings abstract concepts to life through personification. Utterson's imagination is described as "enslaved", suggesting his thoughts are trapped and controlled by his concerns about Hyde. Similarly, "the face of Hyde sat heavy on his memory" presents Hyde's image as a physical presence weighing down Utterson's mind.
Personification Analysis: "Enslaved imagination"
The phrase "his imagination was enslaved" gives human characteristics to Utterson's mental processes.
Effect: This suggests that Utterson has lost control over his thoughts, which are now dominated by his obsession with solving the mystery of Hyde.
Sound devices and wordplay
The chapter includes clever wordplay with the pun "If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek". This plays on the similarity between "Hyde" and "hide," suggesting Utterson's determination to find what Hyde is trying to conceal.
Stevenson also uses onomatopoeia when describing Hyde's "hissing intake of breath," creating an almost serpentine quality that adds to Hyde's threatening presence.
Character relationships and development
Utterson's moral compass
Throughout this chapter, Utterson emerges as the story's moral centre. His concern for Jekyll drives him to investigate despite personal discomfort, and his legal training helps him recognise the suspicious nature of Jekyll's will. His willingness to confront Hyde directly demonstrates both courage and loyalty.
Jekyll's absence and mystery
Interestingly, Jekyll himself appears very little in this chapter, yet his presence dominates through others' discussions of him. This absence creates mystery while allowing other characters to reveal their perceptions of his changing nature.
Stevenson's decision to keep Jekyll largely absent from this chapter is a clever narrative technique. By having other characters discuss him, we learn about Jekyll's reputation and relationships while building suspense about his actual condition and motivations.
Hyde's intimidating presence
Hyde's brief appearance establishes him as a formidable antagonist. His confidence in providing his address suggests he feels untouchable, while his physical appearance creates immediate disgust in Utterson. The revelation that servants must obey Hyde indicates his growing power within Jekyll's household.
Key quotes and their significance
Several important quotes illuminate character motivations and themes:
Quote Analysis: Lanyon's Condemnation
Dr Lanyon's description of Jekyll as having "gone wrong in mind" and his dismissal of Jekyll's work as "unscientific balderdash" reveals the depth of their professional and personal split.
Significance: These harsh words show how completely their friendship has deteriorated and foreshadow the dangerous nature of Jekyll's experiments.
Hyde's willingness to show his face and provide his address demonstrates his confidence, suggesting he either feels protected by Jekyll or possesses some power over him.
The description of Hyde's "hissing" breath creates animalistic imagery that dehumanises him and makes him seem inherently threatening.
Key Points to Remember:
- Chapter 2 represents the rising action where Utterson's concerns about Jekyll transform into active investigation
- The chapter explores two major themes: loyalty and friendship versus the conflict between traditional science and experimental methods
- Stevenson uses three distinct tones: disgust (Utterson towards Hyde), indifference (Lanyon towards Jekyll), and curiosity (Utterson's investigation)
- Figurative language includes metaphors, personification, and wordplay to create atmosphere and develop character understanding
- Jekyll's physical absence paradoxically increases his importance as other characters reveal their changing perceptions of him
- The chapter establishes Hyde as a confident antagonist who seems to hold mysterious power over Jekyll's household