The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde: Plot Summary

The Strange Case Unfolds in Late Nineteenth-Century London

We are in the old London of the late nineteenth century. Mr. Utterson, a prestigious London lawyer, has heard a story from his friend, Dr. Enfield, which piques his curiosity.

Utterson's Investigation Begins

Thus, Utterson begins an investigation to ascertain the true identity of Mr. Hyde, a man closely connected to his old friend, Dr. Jekyll.

Key Discoveries in the Inquiry

• His investigations first lead Utterson to a will written by Jekyll, which bequeaths all his property to Hyde in the event of his death or disappearance.
• Later, the lawyer has a conversation with Jekyll, who asks him to forget the matter.

A Brutal Murder and Growing Suspicion

Afterward, a brutal murder occurs in the city. A witness claims the murderer was Mr. Hyde. After a long search, Hyde does not appear, and the strange illness and subsequent death of Lanyon, an old friend of Utterson, occurs.

The Final Revelation

After a long period of quiet, one night Poole, Jekyll's servant, appears at Utterson's house seeking help. Utterson travels to his friend's house, and after breaking down the laboratory door, they find the corpse of Hyde alongside letters written by Henry Jekyll himself.

Jekyll's Confession Explained

At home, Utterson reads the letters, which explain the strange case: the doctor had a clear obsession: to divide the two natures of a person (the good and the evil). This was achieved through a potion that Jekyll invented.

The Transformation and Downfall

When he drank it, he transformed into the evil Mr. Hyde. Increasingly, Hyde began to appropriate his body until the point where the two characters hated each other. The proportions for manufacturing the potion began to run out, and he could not find the appropriate substance. When the potion finally ran out, both struggled against each other, but with the end of the product, both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde met their death.

Principal Characters Involved

• Mr. Utterson: A London lawyer; a man of harsh, cold, and sober character.
• Henry Jekyll: A doctor with physical-chemical knowledge.
• Edward Hyde: This character is created by Dr. Jekyll from the dark part of his soul. Physically, he is a deformed, repulsive, and evil being.
• Poole: Henry Jekyll's servant and butler. Jekyll gives Edward Hyde the power to give orders to Poole.
• Dr. Lanyon: An old friend of Mr. Utterson and Dr. Jekyll. He is the first to discover the truth about Henry Jekyll.