The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

1. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Chapter 5 –Incident of the Letter

2. Chapter 5 - Summary • Poole admits Utterson into Jekyll’s house and leads him across the former garden to the “dissecting rooms” (p.34). • Jekyll is described as “looking deadly sick” (p.35). • When Utterson asks if Jekyll has heard the news about Sir Danvers’ death. Jekyll admits that he heard the paperboys shouting about it. • Utterson is concerned that Jekyll is hiding Hyde within the house – Jekyll assures him that he is not, that Hyde is “quite safe; mark my words, he will never more be heard of,” but that “I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again.” (both quotes p.35)

3. Chapter 5 - Summary • Jekyll asks Utterson to look over a note that he received from Hyde. He does so and sees that it is from Hyde, assuring Jekyll that he should not worry about Hyde’s safety. • Utterson asks Jekyll is Hyde had dictated the terms of his Will to him – he is sure he did. Jekyll simply nods his head. • Utterson also asks if there is an envelope for the letter, that would bear a postmark to show where/when it was sent. • Jekyll explains that he burnt the envelope.

4. Chapter 5 - Summary • Utterson then asks Poole about the messenger who delivered the letter – Poole relays that there has been no messenger, except for circulars (junk mail). • This news alarms Utterson as he assumes that Hyde must have delivered the letter to Jekyll in the dissecting rooms, in person; thus arousing more fear in Utterson for his friend’s safety.

5. Chapter 5 - Summary • Back home, Utterson takes time to study the note from Hyde. He asks his head clerk, Mr Guest, to study the note as he is a “great student and critic of handwriting”. • It is compared with another note written by Jekyll to check for similarities. • Guest concludes that "there's a rather singular resemblance; the two hands are in many points identical; only differently sloped.“ (p.38) • Utterson is shocked – he now draws the conclusion that his close, long-time friend, Dr Henry Jekyll is responsible for forging the note on behalf of Mr Edward Hyde – Sir Danver’s suspected murderer!

6. Analysis – Incident of the Letter

7. Chapter 5 - Analysis • This is the first time that Utterson has been invited into Jekyll’s dissection room. • Look at the description of the room - the three "dusty windows barred with iron“: What does this tell us? These “dusty windows” will later be the windows where Utterson and Enfield will see Dr. Jekyll sitting, in Chapter 7. (p.34) • Note that when Utterson meets Dr. Jekyll here, he is aware that an immense change has taken place in the doctor: Dr. Jekyll looked "deadly sick." He did not rise to meet his visitor, but held out a cold hand and "bade him welcome in a changed voice.“ – What do you think is happening?

8. Chapter 5 - Analysis • There is another pun when Utterson says "You have not been mad enough to hide this fellow.” (p.35). • Again, Utterson points out the fact that both his and Jekyll’s names will be dragged through a trial if Hyde is caught. • Jekyll admits that this business has got him thinking about how it may damage his reputation: “I cannot say that I care what becomes of Hyde; I am quite done with him. I was thinking of my own character, which this hateful business has rather exposed.” (p.35) // This is an important quote: What do we think Jekyll can mean?

9. Chapter 5 - Analysis • We should also note that when Dr. Jekyll's servant, Poole, assures Utterson that no letter was delivered by a messenger, we assume along with Utterson that Hyde must have delivered it by the laboratory door — the door which Enfield had observed in Chapter 1. It is, after all, fitting that such a person as Hyde would use only the back door. • What is the main problem that we have as readers in allowing Utterson’s assertions, discoveries and assumptions about who Mr Edward Hyde is?