Jekyll and Hyde Chapter 5

Jekyll acts strangely after Carew's murder
1. When Utterson visits Jekyll, he finds him behaving oddly
  1. Jekyll is in his lab when Utterson goes to see him - unusual because Utterson hasn't visited his friend there beofre
    1. This is in the "dingy" building we associate with Hyde, and Utterson feels a "sense of strangeness"
      1. This creates tension and unease
  2. Jekyll looks "sick" and speaks in a "feverish manner"
    1. Shows how agitated he is about the murder
    2. He's determined to be rid of Hyde, swearing to God that he'll never see him again
  3. But he's still holding back information
    1. He says he has "grounds for certainty" that Hyde will not return
      1. But he "cannot share with anyone" what these are - increases the mystery
Stevenson includes letters in his narrative
1. Jekyll claims that he's received a letter from Hyde, which he gives to Utterson because he's worried it will affect his reputation
  1. Utterson is relieved - he was concerned that Jekyll's name would be dragged into a scandal
2. Initially Utterson is convinced by the letter's authenticity, but when Poole says that nothing was delivered, he starts to doubt it
  1. Shows that even when written documents can't be trusted
  2. Stevenson gives the reader reasons to doubt what we're told - creates atmosphere of intrigue
3. Reader learns a lot through letters and documents - makes the gradual unravelling events of the story more realistic
4. Secrecy
  1. Utterson usually keeps problems to himself
    1. Even when he asks for Guest's help, he does it indirectly
    2. It's all part of the Victorian code of restraint and concealing emotions
Utterson leaps to the wrong conclusion
1. Utterson takes the letter home and shows it to Guest
  1. It's Guest who realises that Hyde's writing looks very similar to Jekyll's
2. Utterson "struggled" with himself before asking Guest for more information
  1. Makes it seem as if Utterson is reluctant to uncover what might be an unpleasant truth
3. Utterson warns Guest not to speak about the letter
  1. Adds another layer of secrecy to the case
  2. Utterson come to the conclusion that Jekyll has forged the note for Hyde

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Jekyll and Hyde Chapter 5

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	Created by Niamh Webster over 6 years ago