The Strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde - Dear James Millfield,
The Strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde - english coursework
Dear James Millfield,
It has been too long. I trust things are better down your end than it is here. I have some distressing news. It is my dismay to tell you that our dear friend Dr. Jekyll and Lanyon have died, or have been killed shall I say. There is no easier way of telling you this but I desperately need someone to talk to as it has been behind closed doors for too long now. It is time things should be brought to the attention of whom it may concern. I am telling you this because Jekyll kept too much secret which drove him to killing himself. I dread to think what will happen to me if I keep this dark, evil event to myself like my once dear friend did. Maybe I should start from the beginning.
I have been Dr. Jekyll's lawyer and friend for many years now. It was long before I was concerned about his relationship with a mysterious Mr. Hyde to whom Jekyll left a quarter of a million pounds in a Will which he placed in my own guardianship. Despite my serious uncertainties I, decided to agree to this arrangement that I would administer the Will whatever the circumstances. After all, I didn't think there was anything Jekyll wouldn't have done for me if I asked him. However, it was not long before Jekyll's manner towards our companionship changed. It soon seemed he had more important things on his mind which only amplified my suspicion.
Our once fellow scientist, Lanyon, shared my suspicion towards Dr. Jekyll and this strange character Mr. Hyde. He was as inquisitive as I was regarding the situation. Lanyon told me he has long been deeply suspicious about the experiments Dr. Jekyll had carried out in his laboratory and had become distance from him since. It was this misgiving which leads to Lanyon's death. I remember Lanyon once told me he feared that his death would come very soon. I also noticed tension between Jekyll and Lanyon. Jekyll felt hostile towards Lanyon and Lanyon told me he didn't want anything to do with Jekyll again. I could sense something was horribly wrong. I knew full well someone else must have been involved to cause such a conflict between Jekyll and Lanyon as they once well respected each other and were close friends as well as colleagues. All I could think of was this Mr. Hyde.
It was not long before the terrible incidents occurred. My cousin Richard Enfield told me he witnessed Mr. Hyde colliding with and then trampling over an eight-year-old girl near the squalid rear entrance to Jekyll's laboratory and that when ordered to pay some compensation, drew the money out of Jekyll's account. When I heard of this, there was a feeling of repugnance and loathing which Mr. Hyde inspired in me. I naturally assumed Mr. Hyde had been blackmailing my dear friend Jekyll which must be why the cheque was signed by him. Not long after, Hyde was witnessed by a maidservant who recognises him brutally murder Sir Danvers Carew who was delivering a letter to me. When I heard of this news, I felt nothing but sheer outrage. However, I must keep my feelings enclosed if I was going to stay focused in getting to the bottom of this and to find out what the relationship is between Dr. Jekyll and this monster Hyde. I could sense there was a steady build up of horror.
I later found out a connection between Jekyll and Hyde. After the distressing incident of Sir Danvers Carew, the police went to investigate Hyde's place. They found evidence of a hurried exit. Amongst other things, they discover the remains of the murder weapon and some burnt papers, including a cheque book. I later compared examples of Hyde and Jekyll's handwriting only to notice the remarkable similarity which lead to further more confusion. I now know there is definitely a connection as Hyde was witnessed going through Jekyll's back door and also the similar handwriting. I continued to investigate ...
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I later found out a connection between Jekyll and Hyde. After the distressing incident of Sir Danvers Carew, the police went to investigate Hyde's place. They found evidence of a hurried exit. Amongst other things, they discover the remains of the murder weapon and some burnt papers, including a cheque book. I later compared examples of Hyde and Jekyll's handwriting only to notice the remarkable similarity which lead to further more confusion. I now know there is definitely a connection as Hyde was witnessed going through Jekyll's back door and also the similar handwriting. I continued to investigate further for the safety of my friend Jekyll.
I went home that night to study the contents of the Will. I have to say, I was deeply troubled by its contents. Although I was in charge of it, I refused to have anything to do with its making. The Will stated that in case of Jekyll's death, all his possessions should be passed to his 'friend and benefactor Edward Hyde' and also that should the doctor disappear or be inexplicably absent for three months or more, Hyde should take up his position at once. I simply looked upon this document as an act of madness. By then I was dreadfully concerned as to why Jekyll would pass down everything to someone with such appalling and evil ways. I simply had to find out what was going on. I decided to visit Lanyon who I hoped would be able to shed some light on this disturbing matter.
Having visited our friend Lanyon, I found out that he has seen little of Jekyll recently and that their professional relationship as fellow scientists ended ten years ago. This was because Jekyll's experiments became 'too fanciful' for him. This is the first indication that Jekyll has been dabbling in unconventional science. However, I feel relieved that it is only a disagreement over scientific matters. Lanyon declared he knew nothing of Hyde. I decided to call it a day and set off home.
That night I had a terrible dream of Hyde trampling over a child. I also see our friend Jekyll under the power of some terrifying faceless figure. When I woke up I was determined to find out exactly who this Mr. Hyde was. After several unsuccessful attempts, I managed to intercept Hyde as he was about to enter the strange door my cousin told me about earlier leading to Jekyll's laboratory. At first, Hyde deliberately avoided looking at me but I asked to see his face so that I would recognise him in the future. Although not only did he do so, he also gave me his Soho address. This greatly aroused my suspicions. I was convinced that he was going to take advantage of the Will. Having said a few more words, Hyde disappeared through the door 'with extraordinary quickness'.
Having reflected with the singular appearance of Hyde, I yet not know why I am filled with so much 'unknown disgust, loathing and fear' in his presence.
I was convinced Jekyll was being blackmailed. I decided to visit an old friend only to find out Jekyll wasn't in said his servant Poolé. Having questioned him, he told me that all servants have orders to obey Hyde. Poolé also said that they see little of the doctor because he spends most of the time in the laboratory, using the 'old dissecting-room door'. I then left, filled with sorrow for Jekyll who I was convinced was being haunted by a past crime, which Hyde is using to blackmail him. There is definitely an atmosphere of secrecy which I feel Jekyll is determined to maintain. Come to think of it, we all have secrets having looked back upon my own life. I am now determined to pursue Hyde to discover his secret and thwart his attempts to inherit from Jekyll's Will.
Two weeks later I was invited round Dr. Jekyll's house along with other old friends for dinner. I remained behind after dinner whilst everyone left to discuss the Will. I expressed my strong disapproval and told him all the evil things I have heard about Mr. Hyde although Dr. Jekyll turned pale and refused to be drawn on the subject. Although Jekyll had earlier dismissed his friend Lanyon as an 'ignorant blatant pedant', I presumed Jekyll's dismissal of Lanyon was based on the argument over scientific matters. He then declared his respect and admiration for me 'the light-hearted and loose-tongued'. He assured me things were not as bad as I thought and that he could rid himself of Hyde whenever he chooses. He then begged me to keep these matters very much to myself and also made sure that I would allow Hyde to receive what is legally due to him should anything happen to Jekyll. The fact that he begged me for the need of absolute secrecy emphasises my point that there is constantly an atmosphere of secrecy. I feared to reveal what was under it all.
A year has passed. This was when Sir Danvers Carew was witnessed being brutally murdered by Mr. Hyde who apparently addressed Hyde with perfect politeness. It was witnessed by a maidservant who described Sir Danvers Carew as 'an aged and beautiful gentleman' whom she did not recognise and who seemed to have 'an innocent and old-world kindness of disposition'. As much as this description horrifies me, it emphasises the duelling of human nature. What could an elderly man possibly have done to provoke this dreadful outburst? Here we have uncontrollable fury against an innocent elderly man. This represents the opposing sides of the human personality, the struggle between good and evil. When the police investigated the scene, they found the remains of the weapon which was half a broken walking stick I gave Dr. Jekyll as a present. I then took the police to Hyde's house. When we arrived we found Hyde had already fled, leaving clothes and possessions scattered about. The other half of the walking stick was found. By the fireplace were remains of burned papers including part of a cheque book. When the police checked Hyde's account at the bank, they find him several thousand pounds in credit and decide to wait for him there although I feel less confident of Hyde's capture having known more of his mysterious and vague past. This was furthermore evidence which made me feel Jekyll was being blackmailed.
Soon later, I was admitted into Dr. Jekyll's Laboratory for the first time. Dr. Jekyll was sickly and pale. He begged me yet again to believe him when he says Hyde has gone for good. He even showed me a letter which was apparently written and hand-given by Hyde apologising for the way he repaid Jekyll's generosity and that he will leave London. I then asked Poolé if anything had been delivered by hand and he assured me that everything that was delivered today was through the post. This again aroused my suspicions and consequently, I took the letter to my head clerk who was something of a handwriting expert. When a dinner invitation arrived from Jekyll, she compared the two finding the handwriting was remarkably similar. I was convinced Dr. Jekyll forged the letter to protect Hyde.
Despite the bizarre fact Jekyll would want to protect Hyde, I was hugely relieved, particularly as a remarkable change had come over my friend Jekyll who has emerged much as he was the terrible events of Mr Hyde. For two solid months, Jekyll was his old respectable self, the part I think we all liked best in him. It seems the remarkable disappearance of Hyde coincides with the equally remarkable upturn in the health and fortunes of Dr. Jekyll. However, Jekyll soon turned to seclusion, refusing to see any of his friends. Alarmed at this change, I visited Dr. Lanyon. I was tremendously alarmed at his change in appearance. He seemed much older and frailer. This must obviously be due to some dreadful shock he must have received. He was clearly a frightened man as he was telling me he will surely meet his death very soon. He says that 'if we knew all, we would be glad to die'. This made me wonder what kind of knowledge he was referring to. If not death, what deep shock did Lanyon have to make him so frightened? This was the point Lanyon told me he wanted nothing to do with Jekyll and said that I would understand after his death. I didn't want to believe it but it's true and now I know exactly why.
I was walking with Enfield, still anxious to see my old friend. We stood by the window looking through the bars of voluntary imprisonment. He noticed me and seemed very pleased to see me when suddenly the expression changed on his face to one of 'abject terror and despair' before he slams the window shut. Although only a glimpse, his face was enough to send us home almost in complete silence 'with an answering horror in our eyes'. I then knew he was suffering from something he cannot control.
To cut a long story short, I later found out our friend Dr. Jekyll has been taking a formula he created through his notion of separating good from evil. In order to do this, he must experience true evil himself. It is my regret to tell you that Jekyll turns into this monster when he drinks the formula and goes by the name of Mr. Edward Hyde. I am aware of the shock you are feeling and it is too beyond my understanding why Jekyll was so dedicated to such a fanatical and evil experiment which he knew full well he could not control. I have not yet come to terms of the sheer hypocrisy of a well-respected physician and chemist turning into a 'beast of a man' described in numerous animalistic images. Even the streets have an alter ego. Behind one door is a greatly respected man with a high status in society and yet you turn the corner only to find another door with what only can be described as a monster with no conscience or a sense of morality.
I look upon this as a struggle between good and evil. It conveys the tension between reality and illusion. I have now learned even the most respected people have something to hide. This is as Hyde was a representative figure. He symbolises corruption, the lure of evil - the devil that lurks within every man. This only amplifies how evil, once nurtured, can grow and become a dominant trait in human nature. It was such a tragedy that our dearly loved friend Dr. Henry Jekyll had to die. It was simply a brilliant mind killed by curiosity. Dr. Jekyll soon didn't know who he was. His original self had been altered. He ultimately lost his moral and psychological side and consequently, he committed suicide, all through the process of ambition.
I express regret for telling you such tragic news but I desperately needed to talk to someone as my close ones around me have been taken from me. I look forward to hearing from you. Take care.
