Jekyll and Hyde: The Dual Nature Unveiled

An Unsettling Encounter

The novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde begins with a lawyer, Mr. Utterson, taking a walk with his friend and relative, Mr. Enfield. They walk past a mysterious door, prompting Mr. Enfield to recount a disturbing incident: a brutal man knocked down a little girl, drawing the ire of onlookers. The man offered a substantial payment, disappearing through the door only to return with a large check drawn from Dr. Jekyll’s bank account. The perpetrator was none other than Mr. Hyde.

The Lawyer's Growing Suspicion

Mr. Utterson, who serves as Dr. Jekyll’s lawyer, discovers a peculiar clause in Jekyll’s will: in the event of Jekyll’s death or disappearance, his entire estate is to be bequeathed to Mr. Hyde. Deeply suspicious, given his high regard for Dr. Jekyll, Utterson resolves to uncover the truth. He seeks out Mr. Hyde, finding himself profoundly disturbed by the palpable evil emanating from the man. When Utterson questions Dr. Jekyll about these strange arrangements, Jekyll steadfastly refuses to comment, and the matter remains unresolved for nearly a year.

A Brutal Murder and Hyde's Disappearance

Nearly a year later, a prominent politician is brutally beaten to death. A maid witnesses the murder, identifying the malevolent Mr. Hyde as the culprit. Despite widespread efforts, Hyde vanishes without a trace. Meanwhile, Dr. Jekyll appears to be in excellent health and high spirits, entertaining friends (including Dr. Lanyon), hosting dinner parties, and diligently attending to his religious duties.

Lanyon's Death and Jekyll's Seclusion

Two months later, both Dr. Lanyon and Dr. Jekyll fall gravely ill, each claiming an irrevocable quarrel with the other. Dr. Lanyon eventually dies, leaving mysterious documents in Mr. Utterson’s possession, with strict instructions that they be opened only upon Dr. Jekyll’s death or disappearance. Dr. Jekyll, meanwhile, retreats into deep seclusion, despite Mr. Utterson’s persistent visits.

The Laboratory Discovery

Finally, one evening, Dr. Jekyll’s butler visits Mr. Utterson, expressing grave concern for his master and convinced of foul play. The butler persuades Utterson to return to Dr. Jekyll’s house, where they force entry into Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory. Inside, they discover Mr. Hyde dead on the floor, but Dr. Jekyll is nowhere to be found.

The Unveiling of the Truth

Jekyll's Transformation and Hyde's Dominance

Mr. Utterson finds several documents addressed to him. Returning home, he reads both Dr. Lanyon’s narrative and Dr. Jekyll’s narrative, which prove to be two complementary parts of the same astonishing story. Through these posthumous accounts, the truth is revealed: by means of a potent potion, Dr. Jekyll was able to transform into Mr. Hyde, indulging in a world of pleasure and self-serving crime. In his own narrative, Dr. Jekyll confesses that Mr. Hyde grew progressively more powerful and increasingly difficult to control, ultimately becoming the dominant personality.