The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson Summary (Chapters 5 – 9)

 

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson

                   Summary (Chapters 5 – 9)

Mr Utterson returns home after his unpleasant encounter with Mr Hyde. He is much worried for Dr Jekyll, since Mr Hyde is the heir to Dr Jekyll’s property. He meets Dr Jekyll during a party and expresses his dissatisfaction regarding the will. Dr Jekyll expects Mr Utterson’s support for Mr Hyde, in case of his disappearance.

Approximately one year later, the scene opens with a maid enjoying the moonlight by her window. She witnesses a small, evil-looking man, whom she recognises as Mr Hyde, encounter a polite, aged gentleman. When the gentleman offers Hyde a greeting, Hyde suddenly turns on him with a stick, beating him to death. The police find a letter addressed to Mr Utterson on the dead body, and they consequently summon him. He identifies the dead body as Sir Danvers Carew, a popular Member of Parliament and one of his clients.

Mr Utterson accompanies the police to Hyde’s house which is located in a poor, evil-looking part of the town. Hyde’s landlady lets the men in, but the suspected murderer is not at home. The police find the murder weapon and the burned remains of Hyde’s cheque book. Upon a subsequent visit to the bank, the police inspector learns that Hyde still has an account there. In the days and weeks that follow, no sign of Hyde turns up.

Mr Utterson visits Dr Jekyll, whom he finds in his laboratory looking extremely ill. Dr Jekyll feverishly claims that Hyde has left and that their relationship has ended. He also assures Mr Utterson that the police shall never find the man. Dr Jekyll shows Mr Utterson a letter which could damage his reputation if he hands it over to the police. The letter is from Hyde, assuring Dr Jekyll that he has means of escape, and that he deems himself unworthy of Dr Jekyll’s generosity. Mr Utterson asks if Hyde dictated the terms of Dr Jekyll’s will—especially its insistence that Hyde inherit the property in the event of Jekyll’s ‘disappearance’. Jekyll replies in the affirmative, and Mr Utterson tells his friend that Hyde probably meant to murder him and that he has had a near escape.

On his way out, Mr Utterson runs into Poole, Dr Jekyll’s butler, and asks him to describe the man who delivered the letter. Poole claims to have no knowledge of any letters being delivered other than the usual mail. That night, Mr Utterson consults his trusted clerk, Mr Guest, who is an expert in handwriting. Mr Guest compares Hyde’s letter with Dr Jekyll’s writing and suggests that the same hand inscribed both; Hyde’s script merely leans in the opposite direction, as if for the purpose of concealment. Mr Utterson reacts with alarm at the thought that Dr Jekyll would forge a letter for a murderer.

As time passes, Dr Jekyll becomes healthier-looking and more sociable, devoting himself to charity. After two months, Dr Jekyll holds a dinner party, which both Mr Utterson and Dr Lanyon attend, and the three talk as old friends. But a few days later, when Mr Utterson visits DrJekyll, Poole reports that his master is not receiving visitors. Hence Mr Utterson goes to visit Dr Lanyon and shockingly finds him in poor health with a frightened look in his eyes.

 

Dr Lanyon explains that he has had a great shock and expects to die in a few weeks. When Mr Utterson mentions that Dr Jekyll also seems ill, Dr Lanyon violently demands not to talk about Dr Jekyll. Mr Utterson writes to Dr Jekyll, inquiring as to what caused the break between him and Dr Lanyon. Soon Dr Jekyll writes, explaining that he understands why the doctor says they must not meet. He adds that he will be maintaining a strict seclusion as he is suffering a punishment that he cannot name.

 

Dr Lanyon dies a few weeks later. Mr Utterson, then, takes from his safe a letter that Dr Lanyon meant for him to read after he was dead. Inside, he finds another envelope, marked to remain sealed until Dr Jekyll also has died. Out of professional principle, Mr Utterson overcomes his curiosity and puts the envelope away for safekeeping. The following Sunday, Mr Utterson and Mr Enfield go for a walk. Mr Enfield mentions that he has learned that the run-down laboratory they pass is physically connected to Dr Jekyll’s house, and they both stop to peer into the house’s windows. To their surprise, the two men find Dr Jekyll by the window, enjoying fresh air. Dr Jekyll complains that he feels low and Mr Utterson invites him to join them. Then, just as they resume the polite conversation, a look of terror seizes Dr Jekyll’s face, causing it to alter and melt. Dr Jekyll gives a strange cry and quickly shuts the window and vanishes. Mr Utterson and his nephew Mr Enfield depart in shocked silence.