The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Plot Summary - Full lesson

Summary

The script narrates the enigmatic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, exploring the duality of human nature. Lawyer Mr. Utterson becomes entangled in the mystery when a sinister incident involving Mr. Hyde leads to a deeper connection with Dr. Jekyll's will and his transformation into pure evil. As Hyde's influence grows, culminating in a murder, Dr. Jekyll's struggle to maintain control over his darker side intensifies. The chilling conclusion reveals the ultimate demise of Dr. Jekyll, with his last transformation into Hyde marking the tragic end of the struggle between good and evil within one man.

Takeaways

• 📜 The story revolves around the duality of human nature, represented by the characters Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• 👥 Mr. Gabriel Utterson, a lawyer, is a central character who is both a friend to Dr. Jekyll and a relative of Mr. Richard Enfield.
• 🏚 Mr. Enfield recounts a sinister incident involving Mr. Hyde, who shows no remorse after harming a little girl.
• 🤝 Dr. Jekyll's will, drafted by Utterson, leaves everything to Mr. Hyde if Jekyll dies or disappears, raising questions about their relationship.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Utterson seeks answers from Dr. Lanyon, another old friend of Dr. Jekyll, who is unaware of Hyde's existence and disapproves of Jekyll's scientific pursuits.
• 🕵️‍♂️‍🦹 Mr. Hyde is elusive and uncooperative when Utterson tries to confront him, revealing a glimpse of his true nature.
• 🔪 A horrific murder shocks London, with Sir Danvers Carew identified as the victim and Mr. Hyde as the prime suspect.
• 👨‍⚕️ Dr. Jekyll's health deteriorates, and he claims to have severed ties with Hyde, but Utterson finds evidence suggesting a deeper connection.
• 📝 Dr. Lanyon's letter to Utterson reveals his own shocking experience with Jekyll's transformation, leading to the end of their friendship.
• 🧪 In his confession, Dr. Jekyll explains his use of a special drug to express his darker side as Mr. Hyde, revealing the struggle between his two identities.
• ⚰️ The story concludes with the death of both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as Hyde takes his own life in Jekyll's lab, leaving Utterson to piece together the truth.

Q & A

Who are the main characters in the script?

The main characters are Mr. Gabriel Utterson, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Richard Enfield, and Dr. Lanyon.

What is the relationship between Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield?

Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield are distant relatives who enjoy walking together every Sunday.

What incident does Mr. Enfield recount to Mr. Utterson?

Mr. Enfield recounts an incident where he saw a man, later identified as Mr. Hyde, deliberately stomp on a little girl and then escape into a sinister building.

What is unusual about the check Mr. Hyde gives as compensation?

The check is unusual because it is not signed in Mr. Hyde's name but still clears at the bank.

Why does Mr. Utterson feel uneasy about Dr. Jekyll's will?

Mr. Utterson feels uneasy because the will states that if Dr. Jekyll dies or disappears for more than three months, Mr. Hyde inherits everything, which seems suspicious.

What is Dr. Lanyon's opinion of Dr. Jekyll's work?

Dr. Lanyon believes that Dr. Jekyll's work is meddling and unscientific nonsense, and he has grown apart from Dr. Jekyll.

What shocking event occurs a year after the initial incidents?

A year later, London is shocked by the news of a horrific murder of Sir Danvers Carew, a well-known and respectable politician, identified as being committed by Mr. Hyde.

How does Dr. Jekyll explain his transformation into Mr. Hyde?

Dr. Jekyll explains that he used transcendental medicine to create a drug that allowed him to express both the good and evil sides of his personality, transforming him into Mr. Hyde.

What is the significance of the word 'disappear' in the script?

The word 'disappear' is significant as it is used in Dr. Jekyll's will and by Dr. Lanyon, indicating that Dr. Jekyll might be in danger and that there is a mysterious connection to his transformation into Mr. Hyde.

What is the ultimate fate of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

The ultimate fate is that Dr. Jekyll, unable to control the transformations and with his drugs running low, writes a letter to Mr. Utterson under the influence of the last dose of the potion. Mr. Hyde takes full control, leading to the true death of Dr. Henry Jekyll.

What moral or philosophical question does the script raise about human nature?

The script raises the question of whether we should be grateful for the difficult reality that Dr. Jekyll's potion reveals about the duality of human nature, and if we will ever be ready to confront our true selves.