jekyll and hyde

Key Characters

  • Mr Utterson: Lawyer, symbolizes honesty, moral compass of the novella.

  • Dr Jekyll: Reputable doctor, represents repression and curiosity.

  • Mr Hyde: Jekyll's evil counterpart, symbolizes base instincts.

  • Dr Lanyon: Respected scientist, a foil to Jekyll.

  • Poole: Jekyll's loyal butler.

  • Sir Danvers Carew: MP, his murder highlights Hyde's disregard for authority.

  • Mr Enfield: Utterson’s cousin, key to themes of repression and silence.

Overview of Key Events

  1. Hyde's Introduction: Mr Enfield recounts a violent incident involving Mr Hyde.

  2. Utterson's Investigation: Discovers Jekyll's connection with Hyde.

  3. Lanyon's Disapproval: Lanyon, who no longer engages with Jekyll, believes in scientific differences.

  4. Carew's Murder: Hyde violently kills Sir Danvers Carew.

  5. Lanyon's Letter: Instructions for Utterson not to open it until Jekyll’s death; Lanyon dies in shock.

  6. Breaking into Jekyll's Lab: Utterson and Poole find Hyde's body and Jekyll’s letter.

  7. The Transformation: Lanyon’s letter reveals Hyde's transformation into Jekyll.

  8. Jekyll’s Confession: Jekyll admits to creating a drug that allows his transformation into Hyde but loses ability to revert.

Key Scenes

  • Scene 1: Introduction to Hyde; establishes themes of duality and evokes fear.

  • Scene 2: Jekyll’s will foreshadows his downfall.

  • Scene 3: Lanyon’s disapproval reflects contemporary scientific tensions.

  • Scene 4: Carew's murder presents peak horror.

  • Scene 5: Lanyon’s death hints at deeper implications of Jekyll's experiments.

  • Scene 6: Climax where Jekyll's true nature is revealed; implications of instinct.

  • Scene 7: Jekyll’s revelation presents themes of resurrection and evil embodiment.

  • Scene 8: Jekyll’s confession explains the novella’s uncertainties and key themes of repression and duality.

Structure

  • Conventional Narrative Arc:

    • Exposition: Introduces characters and setting.

    • Rising Action: Events and conflicts build tension.

    • Climax: Carew’s murder and lab break-in.

    • Falling Action: Lanyon reveals Hyde’s identity.

    • Denouement: Jekyll’s confession resolves the narrative.

Form

  • Detective Fiction: Subverts expectations by focusing on personal relationships rather than a mystery.

  • Narration: Multiple voices reveal the story; primarily through Utterson's perspective, then Lanyon's and Jekyll's letters.

  • Epistolary Elements: Letters enhance tension and credibility, echoing gothic literature traditions. They challenge the reliability of Utterson's narrative.