Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Chapter Summary
Table of Contents
Reading Resources
Resources for further Understanding:
Lit Charts: Breakdown of the chapter summary step by step with themes and contextual information.
Course Hero: Video breaking down of each chapter with pictures to support it.
Links to read the book:
Owl Eyes: Read the entire book for Free. Includes footnotes to explain the story further.
Chapter One
Summary
Chapter one of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde introduces us to Mr. Utterson, a lawyer who’s described as dry and serious—but don’t let that fool you, he’s a man of quiet curiosities. We meet him strolling with his friend Mr. Enfield when they pass a mysterious, gloomy door.
Naturally, Enfield launches into a bizarre story about an evil-looking man named Mr. Hyde who trampled a girl in the street—classic Hyde behavior, it seems.
Instead of Hyde getting arrested or causing a full-blown scandal (as one might expect), he coolly pays the girl’s family with a suspiciously large check signed by a respectable doctor—none other than the elusive Dr. Jekyll.
Curious? Oh, absolutely.
But, because Victorian London thrives on discretion, Utterson and Enfield agree to never speak of the incident again.
Why question a sketchy connection between your good doctor friend and a creepy street-trampling stranger?
And thus, the seed of mystery is planted in Utterson’s overly-rational mind, setting the stage for an increasingly bizarre series of events. So, buckle up, because things are only going to get weirder from here.
Charectars
Mr. Utterson -the hero (or at least the designated worrier) of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is a man of many virtues—and by “many virtues,” I mean he’s the human equivalent of a well-organized filing cabinet. As a lawyer, he’s all about logic, order, and keeping his emotions firmly in check. Exciting stuff, right? Well, he’s not exactly the life of the party, but he’s steady, trustworthy, and the kind of guy you’d want around if you needed a problem solved or a will written. He’s also got a soft spot for his friends, which means he’ll bend over backward to save them from their own poor decisions (looking at you, Jekyll).
Utterson’s one true hobby seems to be not having hobbies. He enjoys quiet walks, reading dry documents, and bottling up all his feelings like a true Victorian gentleman. But underneath that stoic exterior is a guy who’s deeply curious, even if he pretends otherwise. If something seems off, he’ll poke around—discreetly, of course—until he gets to the bottom of it. So while he might seem like the last person to get caught up in a supernatural thriller, here he is, unraveling mysteries, one suspicious will at a time.
Mr. Richard Enfiled – the man for a casual stroll and some wildly inappropriate storytelling, is the guy who kicks off the whole mystery in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He’s Mr. Utterson’s cousin and walking buddy, and while Utterson is all buttoned-up seriousness, Enfield is more of a “let’s talk about the time I saw a guy trample a child” kind of guy. You know, light conversation for a Sunday walk.
Enfield is a man of the world, with a bit of a “seen it all, don’t ask questions” vibe. He’s not one to dig too deep into mysteries, which is a good thing because if he were, the story would’ve ended with chapter one. He’s content with keeping things hush-hush, like that weird incident with the creepy door, Mr. Hyde, and a suspicious check from Dr. Jekyll. Why stir the pot when you can just walk away, right?
Though not the most curious or proactive guy, Enfield does provide just enough gossip to keep Utterson’s detective brain buzzing. His role in the story might be small, but hey, sometimes you need someone to point out the mysterious door and say, “Yep, weird stuff happens there.
Edward Hyde – is the villain of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and he wastes no time in making a terrible first impression. He’s described as the kind of guy who can send shivers down your spine just by being in the same room. Short, hunched, and with a face so ugly that people practically recoil in horror, Hyde’s physical appearance is just a sneak peek into his soul—if he even has one. His defining traits? Rudeness, cruelty, and a knack for violence. He’s the sort of person who tramples little girls for fun and doesn’t lose a wink of sleep over it. Charming, right?
What really makes Hyde terrifying, though, is the sense that he’s wrong in some fundamental way. People can’t quite put their finger on it, but there’s something deeply unnatural about him—like he doesn’t quite fit into the human race. He has no friends, no morals, and no limits. The only person who seems to trust him is Dr. Jekyll, which is a whole other problem.
Hyde is the dark, chaotic force in the story, and every time he shows up, things go downhill fast. He’s a walking disaster, and wherever he goes, you can bet trouble follows.
Dr. Henry Jekyll – the title character of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is the quintessential “respectable man with a dark secret.” On the surface, he’s everything you’d expect from a proper Victorian gentleman—wealthy, well-educated, a bit of a do-gooder, and widely admired in society. He’s a successful doctor with a sharp mind and a deep curiosity about the human condition. But, as it turns out, Dr. Jekyll has a bit of a hobby: he’s obsessed with the idea that every person has two sides—one good and one evil—and naturally, he decides to test this theory on himself. Because what could go wrong?
Jekyll’s experiments lead to the creation of his dark alter ego, Mr. Hyde, a man who embodies all the wicked impulses Jekyll’s been repressing for years. At first, Jekyll enjoys the freedom Hyde offers, letting him indulge in all the sins he’d never dare commit as his respectable self. But, surprise surprise, things quickly spiral out of control when Hyde becomes stronger and harder to suppress.
Jekyll is a tragic figure—well-meaning but fatally flawed. His desire to separate his good and evil sides turns into a nightmare as he loses control over his darker half, proving that you can’t just shove your inner demons into a corner and hope they behave.
Quotes
“At friendly meetings, and when the wine was to his taste, something eminently human beaconed from his eyes; something indeed that never found his way into his talk, but which spoke not only in these silent symbols of the after-dinner face, but often more often and loudly in the acts of his life.”
“I incline to Cain’s heresy,” he used to say quaintly: “I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.”
“In this character, it was frequently his fortune to be the last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of the downgoing men.”
“It was the mark of a modest man to accept his friendly circle of ready-made from the hands of opportunity.”
“His affections, like ivy, were the growth of time, they implied no aptness in the object.”
“It is connected in my mind,” added he, “with a very odd story.”
“I was coming home from some place at the end of the world.”
“He gave me one look, so ugly that it brought out the sweat in me like running.”
Chapter Two
Summary
In Chapter Two of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Mr. Utterson’s curiosity goes into overdrive.
That mysterious check from Jekyll is bugging him, and now he’s on a mission to uncover who this Mr. Hyde really is.
Like any good lawyer, he pulls out Jekyll’s will, which, surprise surprise, states that if anything happens to Dr. Jekyll, all his stuff goes to—wait for it—Mr. Hyde. Red flag? Oh, absolutely. But apparently, Utterson didn’t think much of it until now.
Utterson decides to snoop around a bit more and heads to Dr. Lanyon, one of Jekyll’s old friends. Unfortunately, Lanyon has no juicy gossip, just a complaint about how Jekyll’s recent scientific ideas are “fanciful rubbish.”
No help there, so Utterson takes matters into his own hands and stakes out the infamous creepy door from Enfield’s story.
And just like that, Utterson meets the man himself—Mr. Hyde.
Spoiler alert: Hyde is rude, ugly, and gives Utterson the creeps.
Naturally, Utterson’s even more suspicious now, and he’s certain Jekyll is mixed up in something bad. He goes to Jekyll’s house, but Jekyll isn’t home. Slightly relieved he doesn’t have to hear what in the world he did to get a man like Hyde on his back, he leaves.
The plot thickens, and so does Utterson’s worry. Hold tight; this mystery is just getting started!
Charectars
Dr. Lanyon – Dr. Hastie Lanyon is the voice of reason in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, at least for a while. He’s an old friend of both Mr. Utterson and Dr. Jekyll, though his relationship with Jekyll has seen better days. Why? Because Lanyon is the kind of scientist who believes in facts, logic, and good old-fashioned medicine—none of that “fanciful rubbish” Jekyll’s been dabbling in lately. He’s practical, no-nonsense, and has little patience for any sort of unorthodox experimentation. If it’s not in a textbook, Lanyon’s not buying it.
At first, Lanyon seems like the least likely character to get dragged into the supernatural mess brewing behind the scenes. He’s grounded, rational, and frankly thinks Jekyll’s gone off the deep end. But when things take a darker turn, it’s Lanyon who gets pulled into Jekyll’s bizarre experiments—and the results absolutely shatter his view of the world. Spoiler alert: watching your friend turn into someone else (cough, Hyde, cough) isn’t great for your health.
Lanyon starts out as the skeptic, the one who scoffs at the strange ideas floating around. But by the end, he’s deeply shaken, proving that even the most rational minds can be rattled when faced with something truly horrifying.
Quotes
“O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend.”
“The Agents of Obscure Enterprises.”
“He was wild when he was young; a long while ago to be sure; but in the law of God, there is no statute of limitations.”
Pede Claudo – Latin phrase for “punishment comes limping.”
Chapter Three
Summary
In Chapter three of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, we dive deeper into the mystery surrounding Dr. Jekyll, and it’s about time!
Mr. Utterson, still worried about his friend’s connection to the sinister Mr. Hyde, decides to crash one of Jekyll’s parties. After all, what better way to snoop around than to mingle with the upper crust of society, right?
At the party, Utterson tries to engage with Jekyll’s guests, but you can almost hear the crickets chirping as he awkwardly fumbles through conversations. Finally, he gets a chance to chat with Jekyll himself. During their conversation, Utterson is eager to bring up Hyde, but Jekyll’s all smiles and charm, brushing it off like it’s no big deal.
Utterson, not one to back down, presses Jekyll about the will that leaves everything to Hyde. Jekyll laughs it off, insisting it’s just a “small matter.” Oh sure, because having a creepy alter ego is totally normal, right?
This fool even says, “I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.” Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool.
Despite Jekyll’s assurances, Utterson is left feeling uneasy. Something is clearly not right. As he leaves the party, he’s more determined than ever to uncover the truth about Hyde and Jekyll’s connection. And just like that, we’re left hanging, wondering how deep this rabbit hole really goes.
Spoiler: it’s a lot deeper than anyone could imagine!
Quotes
“I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.”
Chapter Four
Summary
In Chapter four of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, things take a dark turn—because what’s a good mystery without a shocking murder?
The chapter kicks off with the brutal and very public killing of poor Sir Danvers Carew, a well-liked old gentleman who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Mr. Hyde. Hyde, being Hyde, doesn’t just murder him—he obliterates him with a cane, because subtlety is clearly not his thing.
The crime is so horrifying that it shakes up all of London.
Naturally, the police are on the case, and since the murder weapon was a cane that everyone recognizes as belonging to Dr. Jekyll, things start to get messy.
Enter Mr. Utterson, who gets dragged into the investigation because he’s somehow always conveniently connected to all the drama.
He leads the police to Hyde’s home, where they discover a major red flag: Hyde’s nowhere to be found, but his rooms are a chaotic mess, like he left in a serious hurry. Plus, they find part of the cane and the remains of a burned checkbook—because of course, Hyde’s not going to leave behind a clean trail.
By the end of the chapter, Hyde has gone full ghost mode, vanishing without a trace. Meanwhile, Utterson is left wondering just how deep Jekyll’s involvement goes, and if things weren’t already bad, they’re about to get worse.
Fasten your seatbelts—this mystery is about to hit overdrive!
Charectars
Sir Danvers Carew – is the unfortunate fellow who proves that being rich, well-liked, and knighted doesn’t protect you from meeting a very unpleasant end in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He’s a distinguished, elderly gentleman with a heart of gold and a reputation that’s as squeaky clean as his fancy shoes. Carew is everything society loves—charming, polite, and the kind of guy who probably gets invited to every important dinner party in town. Basically, a total sweetheart.
But, unlucky for him, crossing paths with Mr. Hyde turns out to be a fatal mistake. In one of the story’s most brutal moments, poor Carew gets viciously murdered by Hyde for no apparent reason, other than Hyde being Hyde (translation: pure evil on two legs). The shocking and senseless nature of his death is what really sets everyone on edge—because if a respected guy like Sir Danvers Carew can be attacked in the street, no one is safe!
Though his role is brief, Carew’s murder serves as the turning point that shows just how dangerous and uncontrollable Hyde has become. His tragic end sets off a chain of events that finally makes everyone—especially Utterson—realize that this Hyde problem is far worse than they thought.
Chapter Five
Summary
In Chapter five of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, things get really suspicious as Mr. Utterson pays a visit to Dr. Jekyll’s house, hoping to get some answers after the murder of Sir Danvers Carew.
Jekyll, however, is not his usual charming self. He’s pale, shaky, and clearly not okay. He swears up and down that he’s done with Mr. Hyde and shows Utterson a letter from Hyde, which conveniently says that Hyde is running away forever (very reassuring, right?).
But, naturally, things don’t add up.
The letter is supposedly from Hyde, yet Jekyll’s staff claim that no letter was delivered. Hmm. Cue Utterson’s spidey sense tingling. Being the careful lawyer he is, Utterson takes the letter to his trusty friend, Mr. Guest, who just happens to be an expert in handwriting. Because why wouldn’t your lawyer buddy also double as a handwriting analyst?
Guest compares the letter from Hyde with a sample of Jekyll’s writing and—surprise, surprise—he figures out that both are in the same hand. Basically, Jekyll has been writing his own “Dear John” letters to cover for Hyde.
At this point, Utterson is seriously concerned. Hyde may be gone (for now), but something is definitely off with Jekyll, and it’s clear that the tangled web between the two men is far from untangling.
Charectars
Mr. Guest – is Mr. Utterson’s clerk and low-key the MVP of document analysis in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He’s quiet, efficient, and just happens to be a handwriting expert—which, of course, becomes super handy when Utterson needs someone to compare Jekyll’s and Hyde’s writing. Guest doesn’t say much, but when he does, it’s usually something crucial. He’s the type of guy who prefers to stay behind the scenes but ends up dropping bombshell revelations, like figuring out that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person—just from their handwriting. A master of subtle detective work!
Quotes
“A murderers autograph.”
“No Sir, Not mad but it is in an odd hand.”
Chapter Six
Summary
In Chapter six of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, things seem to be looking up—for about five minutes.
With Mr. Hyde mysteriously out of the picture, Dr. Jekyll suddenly becomes his old, sociable self again. He throws dinner parties, visits friends, and everyone, including Mr. Utterson, breathes a sigh of relief. It’s like Jekyll is finally free from whatever dark influence Hyde had over him. Crisis averted, right? Well, not so fast.
Just as things start to settle down, Jekyll suddenly pulls a disappearing act, shutting himself away in his laboratory and refusing to see anyone. Utterson, now fully back in worry mode, tries to visit Jekyll several times but is always turned away by the butler, Poole, who says Jekyll is “ill.”
This is all very fishy, but Utterson decides to give Jekyll space—until Dr. Lanyon, once a picture of health, takes a sudden, drastic turn for the worse.
Lanyon is not okay. He’s deathly ill, shaken to his core, and absolutely refuses to talk about why. All he’ll say is that he’s had a horrible shock and never wants to see Jekyll again. Not ominous at all, right? Soon after, Lanyon dies, leaving behind a mysterious letter for Utterson—sealed, of course, with strict instructions that it not be opened until Jekyll’s death or disappearance. Now, the mystery deepens, and Utterson is left wondering what on earth could have happened to turn Lanyon’s life upside down so dramatically. Spoiler: it’s going to be wild.
Quotes
“He had his death warrant written legibly upon his face.”
“I sometimes think if we knew all, we should be more glad to get away.”
“If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.”
Chapter Seven
Summary
In Chapter seven of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the tension cranks up another notch. Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield are out for one of their signature Sunday strolls when they happen to pass by the same ominous door from Chapter one—Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory. Naturally, they decide to drop in on Jekyll, who has been in full recluse mode lately. Lucky for them, they spot him sitting by a window and call out to say hello.
At first, Jekyll looks okay, though a bit pale and worn out. The conversation is civil enough—until Jekyll suddenly has a massive freakout right in front of them. His face twists in horror, and without a word, he slams the window shut. Utterson and Enfield, ever the polite Victorian gentlemen, are left standing there in stunned silence, with no idea what they just witnessed. Naturally, they agree not to talk about it (classic Victorian move).
Utterson, of course, is more worried than ever. This brief, bizarre encounter only deepens the mystery surrounding Jekyll, and now it’s clear that something truly awful is going on behind the closed doors of that lab. Whatever Jekyll is hiding, it’s no longer just a secret—it’s a nightmare.
Chapter Eight
Summary
Chapter eight of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is where the mystery finally boils over into full-blown horror. It begins with Mr. Utterson relaxing at home, only to have Dr. Jekyll’s butler, Poole, arrive in a state of sheer panic. Poole insists that something is terribly wrong with his master. Dr. Jekyll has locked himself in his lab for days, refusing to come out, and Poole is convinced that the man inside is not Jekyll at all. Fearing the worst, Poole begs Utterson to come to Jekyll’s house and investigate. Naturally, Utterson, ever the rational lawyer and loyal friend, agrees to help.
When they arrive at Jekyll’s residence, the scene is eerie and tense. The household staff is visibly frightened, huddling together as though something terrible is lurking just beyond the door. Poole recounts strange happenings—mysterious voices, bizarre requests for specific chemicals, and a glimpse of the figure inside that he swears isn’t Jekyll. He even describes seeing someone who resembled Hyde, but in a panic, Utterson still tries to dismiss it as impossible.
Despite his doubts, Utterson can’t ignore Poole’s distress. Realizing that something dreadful is unfolding behind Jekyll’s laboratory door, they make the drastic decision to break it down. Armed with an axe and nerves of steel, Poole and Utterson smash through the door. Inside, they find the body of Mr. Hyde, dead from apparent suicide, lying on the floor and wearing Jekyll’s clothes. Dr. Jekyll, however, is nowhere to be found, and the mystery only deepens.
Utterson is left utterly perplexed. Not only is Jekyll missing, but the presence of Hyde’s body raises terrifying questions. What happened to Jekyll? Did Hyde finally overpower him? With no clear answers, Utterson realizes he’s on the brink of uncovering something far darker and stranger than he ever imagined. The bizarre and tragic nature of Hyde’s death adds to the sense that Jekyll’s secret is far more twisted than anyone could have anticipated. As Utterson stands in the wrecked lab, it’s clear that the final pieces of this puzzle are about to come crashing down.
Quotes
“Well, let our name be vengeance.”
“I demand to see you. I give you fair warning, our suspicions are aroused, and I must and shall see you, if not by fair means, then by foul – if not of your consent, then by brute force.”
Chapter Nine
Summary
In Chapter nine of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the mystery takes a dramatic turn as we finally get a glimpse behind the curtain—through Dr. Lanyon’s eyes. The chapter is a letter from Lanyon, written before his death, and it explains everything. Buckle up, because this is where things get wild.
Lanyon recounts how he received a strange and urgent letter from Dr. Jekyll, asking him to go to Jekyll’s lab, retrieve a drawer full of mysterious chemicals, and wait for a visitor who would explain everything. Curious but skeptical, Lanyon follows the instructions. Sure enough, that night, a disheveled, jittery Mr. Hyde shows up to collect the chemicals. Lanyon, understandably horrified, watches as Hyde mixes up a potion right in front of him. And then—plot twist—Hyde drinks the concoction and transforms into none other than Dr. Jekyll!
The sight of this transformation shatters Lanyon’s rational mind. He can’t handle the fact that Jekyll has somehow been living a double life, swapping between his respectable self and the monstrous Hyde. The shock of witnessing this horrifying metamorphosis is so great that Lanyon’s health collapses, and he dies soon after, utterly unable to cope with what he’s seen.
Quotes
“As you decide, you shall be left as you were before, and neither richer nor wiser, unless the sense of service rendered to a man in moral distress may be counted as a kind of riches of the soul. Or, if you shall so prefer to choose, a new province of knowledge and new avenues to fame and power shall be laid open to you, in this room, upon the instant; and your sight shall be blasted by a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of Satan.”
Chapter Ten
Summary
In Chapter ten of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, we finally get the big reveal—the full confession from Dr. Jekyll himself. The chapter is Jekyll’s own written account, and it lays bare everything that’s been going on behind the scenes. Spoiler: it’s just as twisted as you thought.
Jekyll starts by explaining his lifelong fascination with the dual nature of man—the idea that every person has both good and evil inside them. Unable to resist, he began experimenting, hoping to separate these two sides. Enter the infamous potion, which allowed Jekyll to physically transform into a completely different person—Hyde, the embodiment of his darkest desires. At first, Jekyll loved the freedom Hyde gave him, letting him indulge in behavior he’d never dare as his respectable self. Hyde was violent, reckless, and entirely free of conscience, while Jekyll could return to his life without consequence.
But, as you might guess, things got out of control fast. Hyde became increasingly monstrous, and soon Jekyll could no longer contain him. Worse, the transformations started happening without Jekyll even drinking the potion. Desperate, Jekyll tried to stop becoming Hyde, but by then, Hyde had taken on a life of his own. The final straw came when Hyde, in a fit of rage, murdered Sir Danvers Carew. After that, Jekyll’s life spiraled into a nightmare of guilt and fear.
By the end of the chapter, Jekyll admits he’s lost all control. He knows that it’s only a matter of time before Hyde takes over permanently, and his confession is essentially a goodbye. This final chapter pulls back the curtain on the whole tragic affair, revealing Jekyll as a man destroyed by his own curiosity and ambition. In trying to divide his good and evil selves, he ends up consumed by the very darkness he wanted to control.
Quotes
“It was thus rather the exacting nature of my morbid sense of shame. It was thus rather the exacting nature of my aspirations than any particular degradation in my faults, that made me what I was, and, with even a deeper trench than in the majority of men, served in me those provinces of good and ill which divided and compound man’s dual nature.”
“The man is not truly one, but truly two.”
“If each, I told myself, could be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that was unbearable, the unjust might go his way, delivered from the aspirations and remorse of his more upright twin; and the just could walk steadfastlyand securly on his upward path, doing the good things in which he found his pleasure, and no longer exposed to disgrace and penitence by the hands of this extraneous evil.
“The drug had no discriminating action; it was neither diabolical nor divine; it but shook the doors of the prison house of my disposition.
“Think of it – I did not even exist! Let me but escape into my laboratory door, give me but a second or two to mix and swallow the draught that I had always standing ready; and Whatever had had done, Edward Hyde would pass away like the stain of breath upon a mirror.”
“And yet when i looked upon that ugly idol in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnanace, rather of a leap of welcome. This, too, was myself.”
“My devil had been long caged, he came out roaring.”
“A moment before I had been safe of all men’s respect, wealthy, beloved – the cloth laying for me in the dining -room at home; and now I was the common quarry of mankind, hunted, houseless, a known murderer, thrall to the gallows.”
“That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred.”
“Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end.”