Chartwell Classics-The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Full chapter summaries for The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, including a brief summary, key quotes, key themes, and character summaries for each chapter. Should be really useful for revision before GCSE English Literature exams!
Chapter One - The Story of the Door .
Summary: …
❖ We are introduced to Mr Utterson, a dull, yet likeable lawyer.
❖ Every sunday, Mr Utterson walks with his cousin, Mr Enfield, who, on one of these
occasions, tells a story about a very ugly man who tramples over a small girl.
❖ In response to this, Mr Enfield, the ugly man, a doctor and the young girl’s father go
to cash in a cheque to compensate from the man, but signed with the signature “Dr
Jekyll”
❖ It is revealed that the name of the ugly man is Mr Hyde
❖ Enfield and Utterson agree to never speak of this event again
Quotes: …
❖ “He was austere with himself, drank gin when he was alone”
- This presents Mr Utterson as having two sides to his personality (duality of
man) and as someone who cares about how he appears in public (reputation)
❖ “Street after street, and all folks asleep, street after street and all lighted up as if for a
precession”
- This is a detailed description of setting presenting the streets as empty and
tranquil, whilst creating an air of mystery and tension using repetition and
juxtaposition
Themes: …
❖ Duality of man
- “He was austere with himself, drank gin when he was alone” (Utterson)
❖ Friendship
- “His Friendship seemed yp be founded in a similar catholicity of good-nature”
(Utterson)
- “The two men put the greatest store by these excursions… chief jewel of each
week” (Utterson and Enfield’s walks)
❖ Honour and Reputation
- “Man of a rugged countenance never lighted by a smile” (Utterson)
- “The well-known man about town” (Enfield)
- “I am ashamed of my long tongue” (Enfield is ashamed of his gossiping)
- “With all my heart, I shake hands on that Richard” (Utterson + Enfield agree
never to speak of the event again)
Characters: …
❖ Mr Utterson
- A respectable lawyer, good friends with Mr Enfield, they regularly go on walks
together
- Loveable and kind
❖ Mr Enfield
- Friend of Mr Utterson
- “Well known man about town”
- Also honourable and respectable
❖ Mr Hyde
- Violent - trampled a little girl
- Short and ugly
- Directly compared to the devil (this is startling and scary to a victorian reader)
, Chapter Two - The Search for Hyde .
Summary: …
❖ After hearing the story of the door, utterson goes home and looks at Dr Jekyll’s will,
which leaves everything to Mr Edward Jekyll in the case of his death or
disappearance - this abnormality angers Utterson
❖ He visits Dr Lanyon, an old friend of both Utterson and Jekyll, who has fallen out
with jekyll after a scientific dispute
❖ Utterson is distressed by Jekyll and Hyde’s friendship as Hyde is not reputable
❖ Utterson has nightmares about the faceless Mr Hyde
❖ He eventually finds him, and finds it difficult to describe why he was so ugly
Quotes: …
❖ “His friend and benefactor, Mr Hyde… In the case of Dr Jekyll’s disappearance or
unexplained absence”
- This is mysterious and unusual for a will of a man of such a high status
- It is even more mysterious considering we have not met Dr Jekyll at all yet
❖ “Unscientific balderdash”
- This is Enfield’s opinion on Jekyll’s field of study
❖ “If he could but once set eyes on him, ge thought the mystery would lighten and
perhaps roll altogether away”
- Mr Utterson is incredibly curious and in agony about the mystery
❖ “If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek.”
Themes: …
❖ Mystery
- “Disappearance or unexplained absence”
- “The mystery would lighten or perhaps roll away altogether”
❖ Friendship + Trust
- “If anyone knows, it will be Lanyon”
- “He sprang up from his chair and welcomed him with both hands” (Lanyon
welcomes Utterson)
- “Henry Jekyll became too fanciful for me” (Enfield is sick of Jekyll)
❖ Curiosity
- “If he could but once set eyes on him”
- “If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek”
- “Will you let me see your face?” (Mr utterson approaches Mr Hyde)
Characters: …
❖ Mr Utterson:
- Cares greatly about his friends - he went to Lanyon in concern for Jekyll, and
found Hyde for the same reason
- Is very curious - this event is none of his business yet he is still searching and
questioning about it
❖ Dr Lanyon:
- A respectable, reliable, “dapper” gentleman
- Very good friend of Mr Utterson
- Scientist - disagrees with Jekyll’s field of study
❖ Mr Hyde:
- Described as animalistic - zoomorphism
- Incredibly ugly, yet speaks with a respectable tone
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