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

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)

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.

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.

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!

Analysis – Incident of the Letter

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? Dr. Jekyll's sickness, of course, symbolically represents his sick conscience that is shocked that such a horrible murder could take place, for he knows more about it than he is admitting.

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?

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?