Jekyll And Hyde

In the classic detective story, this climactic chapter would contain the scene in which the detective, having solved the case, reveals his ingenious solution and fingers the culprit. Such a chapter is seen in other mystery stories such as Sherlock Holmes. But, in spite of Utterson's efforts in investigating the matter of Jekyll and Hyde, he has made no progress in solving the mystery. Indeed, were it not for the existence of Lanyon's letter and Jekyll's confession, which make up the last two chapters, it seems likely that the truth about Jekyll and Hyde never would be ascertained.

Right in the middle there lay the body of a man sorely contorted and still twitching. They drew near on tiptoe, turned it on its back and beheld the face of Edward Hyde. He was dressed in clothes far to large for him, clothes of the doctor's bigness; the cords of his face still moved with a semblance of life, but life was quite gone: and by the crushed phial in the hand and the strong smell of kernels that hung upon the air, Utterson knew that he was looking on the body of a self-destroyer.

"We have come too late," he said sternly, "whether to save or punish. Hyde is gone to his account; and it only remains for us to find the body of your master." (pgs. 44-45)

I chose this passage because I feel it is one of the most important parts of the book because it is the closest Utterson comes to solving the case before actually reading the letters. The scene in which they find Hyde is very descriptive and detailed. It allows the reader to really enjoy the climax and pray that realization finally dawns on Utterson. However, Utterson cannot see the truth that is in front of him. One cannot blame Utterson for failing to solve the case of Jekyll and Hyde before reading the letters--even the most skilled professional detective could not have deduced the supernatural circumstances surrounding the doctor and his darker half. Nevertheless, Stevenson uses this chapter to emphasize just how far away from the truth Utterson remains, extending almost to the point of absurdity. This is a commonality in many such stories that include an investigator. In "The Story of the Haunted Forest" from the Brothers Grimm Collection, the brothers believe so much in being rational that it takes them a very long time to admit that they are actually dealing with real supernatural powers.

The servants, led by Poole, remain more in touch with the reality of the situation; they know that something terrible has happened to their master, and so they forsake their duties and huddle together out of fright. Upon seeing them gathered in fear, Utterson reacts with a response characteristic of his all-consuming concern for propriety and the upkeep of appearances. Instead of looking for the cause of the servants' terror, he is more concerned with maintaining decorum and social hierarchy. "What, what?" he bursts out. "Are you all here? . . . Very irregular, very unseemly; your master would be far from pleased."

Even at this time of clear crisis, Utterson is unwilling to allow for any breach of propriety and order. As he talks with Poole before the locked door of the laboratory, Utterson is growing desperate to avoid taking action. He offers more and more absurd explanations for what Poole has seen that culminate in his suggestion that Jekyll has a disease that has changed his appearance beyond the point of recognition. Utterson is willing to accept any explanation, however improbable, before doing anything as indecorous as breaking down a door. Moreover, his unwillingness to break into Jekyll's laboratory reflects his continued concern for his friend's reputation. As long as he does not break in, he seems to think, Jekyll's good name will be preserved. In portraying Utterson's absurd mind-set, Stevenson seems to comment on the larger Victorian mentality and on what one might see as its privileging of order and decorum over truth.

But Utterson's unwillingness to penetrate the mystery of his friend's situation is more than the expression of his Victorian desire to avoid scandal. He seems to have a premonition