GCSE English
Revision Notes
The Strange Case of Dr
Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Quick Notes
Chapter Summaries
The story opens with Mr Utterson, a trustworthy lawyer, telling Enfield about an assault that he witnessed.
Utterson states that he saw a sinister figure named Hyde trampling a little girl. Hyde then went into a house and
returned with a check to present to the young girl’s family. The check was signed, however, by a respectable
gentleman. Utterson and Enfield both agree to not speak of this matter again, but we now learn that Utterson’s
friend, Dr Jekyll, has written a will transferring all of his property to Mr Hyde.
Utterson finds himself puzzled by the transfer of property and goes to his friend, Lanyon, in an attempt to learn
more of the matter. Utterson then goes on a stakeout outside a building that Hyde visits frequently, a laboratory
attached to the back of Jekyll’s house. Utterson sees Hyde and is shocked at his physical appearance. Hyde gives
Utterson his address to quell his suspicions and then Jekyll tells Utterson not to worry about Hyde.
A year later, a servant girl witnesses Hyde beat Sir Danvers Carew, an old man, to death. Carew was a Member of
Parliament and a client of Utterson, so naturally Utterson heard about the murder. He suspects that the murderer
is Hyde. Utterson leads the police to Hyde’s apartment, but when they arrive, Hyde has disappeared. Later,
Utterson visits Jekyll, who claims to have cut off all communication with Hyde. Jekyll shows Utterson a note,
supposedly written by Hyde, that apologises for causing trouble and says goodbye. Later that evening, however, a
handwriting expert determines that Hyde’s handwriting is unmistakeable similar to Jekyll’s.
For a time, Jekyll acts very friendly and sociable, but he soon becomes reclusive in his ways, refusing visitors and
rarely leaving the house. Lanyon dies of shock, but before dying, gives Utterson a letter that is not to be opened
until after Jekyll’s death. Later, Mr Poole, Jekyll’s butler, visits Utterson in a state of panic at Jekyll’s behaviour.
Jekyll has apparently locked himself in his laboratory for a few weeks and now the voice coming from the lab
sounds nothing like Jekyll’s.
Utterson and Poole go to Jekyll’s house, though it is now empty. They then decide to break into Jekyll’s
laboratory. Inside, they find Hyde’s body wearing Jekyll’s clothes, dead by means of suicide. There is a letter with
the body from Jekyll to Utterson that promises to explain everything.
At home, Utterson reads Lanyon’s letter first. This letter reveals that Lanyon’s illness and eventual death were
caused by the shock of seeing Hyde drink a potion and transform into Jekyll. Utterson then reads the letter from
Jekyll. This letter states that Jekyll was attempting to separate his good side from his bad side, when he concocted
a potion that transformed him into Hyde, a monster free of conscious.
Jekyll continues, describing how he originally enjoyed the transformation and the freedom that he had when he
was Hyde. Eventually though, he began transforming involuntarily and without the potion. It was then that Jekyll
vowed to rid himself of Hyde. It was easier said than done, as Jekyll soon transformed into Hyde and killed Sir
Danvers Carew. Jekyll was horrified by his own actions as Hyde and was able to stop the transformations for a
while. Not long after this though, he again began involuntarily changing into Hyde.
The letter continues, with Jekyll describing his predicament. He felt terrible for causing the death of Lanyon. The
letter closes with Jekyll describing that he no longer could make the potion that changed him back to Jekyll. Jekyll
writes that even as he composes his letter he knows that he will soon become Hyde permanently, and he
wonders if Hyde will face execution for his crimes or choose to kill himself. Jekyll notes that, in any case, the end
of his letter marks the end of the life of Dr. Jekyll. With these words, both the document and the novel come to a
close.
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List of Major Characters
Dr. Henry Jekyll
A respected doctor and the London community, known for his decency and charitable works. Jekyll finds this dark
side a burden and undertakes experiments intended to separate his good and evil selves from one another.
Through these experiments, he creates the “monster” of Hyde, that eventually leads to his demise.
Mr. Edward Hyde
The “evil side” of Jekyll. Hyde is violent and cruel, and everyone who sees him describes him as ugly and
deformed—yet no one can say exactly why.
Mr. Gabriel John Utterson
A prominent and upstanding lawyer, well respected in the London community. Utterson is reserved, dignified,
and very rational.
Dr. Hastie Lanyon
A reputable London doctor and, along with Utterson, formerly one of Jekyll’s closest friends. As an embodiment
of rationalism, materialism, and scepticism.
Mr. Poole
Jekyll’s butler. Loyal to Jekyll, but becomes worried when Jekyll deteriorates and eventually enlists the help of
Utterson.
Mr. Enfield
A distant cousin and lifelong friend of Mr Utterson. Often takes long walks with Utterson.
Mr. Guest
Utterson’s clerk and confidant. Guest is also an expert in handwriting. Guest notices that Hyde’s script is the same
as Jekyll’s, but slanted the other way.
Sir Danvers Carew
A well-liked old nobleman, a Member of Parliament, and a client of Utterson.
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Sample Answer
How does Stevenson create menace and suspense in The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr Hyde?
In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, there is an unnerving amount of menace and suspense.
There are several parts of the story that contribute to this feeling. The first is the
fact that the reader remains blind to the truth of the story. In some books, the
reader is aware of the goings-on of all of the characters, sometimes due to an
omniscient narrator. In this story, however, the reader is just as blind as the rest
of the characters in regards to what is really happening to Jekyll.
Another aspect of the story that adds to the menace and suspense of the story is
the diction, or word choice. The diction adds grotesque imagery and dark
depictions of many characters and settings. Stevenson was clever in writing this
story. Bubbly or uplifting language would have lessened the effect of the story
and, possible, the reader’s interpretation of the story. The plot would not be able
to be taken seriously if the diction had not matched the tone.
Finally, the setting of the story adds to the menace and suspense of the story,.
London is described as being slightly dark and dingy. Also, as it is a large place,
there is no knowing what goes on behind closed doors, as evident in the case of
Jekyll.
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