One of the mysteries of the book is who is Mr Hyde I can not give a detailed description of his character all I can say about this is whoever meets him always gives a definition of something wrong with him some kind of evil lurking inside. The author tells a story of a man who bumps into a girl and literally tramples over her body, leaving her lying on the floor crying in pain for this to be in the first chapter shows that this story is a very important one and that will be referred back to in a later stage. Stevenson does this for a reason to give create horror as the reader will want to know what kind of a person would do this. The tension builds up when Mr Enfield says “I could see that –but carrying it off, sir, just like Satan.” Satan is a very strong word as Satan is commonly known as the
devil, the most evil being of all. The writer makes just that sentence alone give the basis of the book. Mr Utterson says “Or is it the mere radiance of a foul soul that thus transpires through.” This gives a sense of mystery how can he be that evil. Mr Utterson also says “O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if I ever read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend. That is the second time Stevenson has used Satan both directed towards Mr Hyde. The writer gives a feeling of horror, tension and mystery, can this person give off an impression of being commonly evil while being seen by someone for the first time.
Mr Hyde is described as “Pale and dwarfish; he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation. Everybody that has met Mr Hyde has also said that he has got a deformity without any nameable malformation. This is mystery in its self as no one can even give a decent description of his face when there the ones to have seen him. “He had a displeasing smile, he had borne himself to the lawyer with a sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness.” The Author gives a lot of contradictions to show the nature of Mr Hyde’s beginnings. “He spoke with a husky whispering and somewhat broken voice, -all these were points against him; but not all of these together could explain the hitherto unknown disgust, loathing and fear with which Mr Utterson regarded him.” There is a part of Mr Hyde that can not be described, once again something not quite right with him, something out of the ordinary that’s always there.
Some of the places described give a sense of mystery and unknowingness. In chapter one Mr Utterson is asking about the place where Mr Hyde lives, the name of the place is called “Blackmail House.” Stevenson intentionally named it this to associate it with darkness and mystery, to cloud the truth. The place is also described as the place “with the door.” The place is such a mystery that they revert to calling it just a door. He is trying to make the book seem more like an old horror film when they tell the individual not to open the door but they do there’s always something hideous lurking behind it. The writer also portrays the house as being almost lifeless, yet there is always smoke arising from the chimney. There is something not quite right about that house; there are only three windows which are always shut and one door, which you hardly see anyone leave out of. There are many questions that need to be answered and Stevenson creates this suspense early on in the story to keep you hooked.
Lots of the places that the novelist describes have lots of atmosphere and tension the character does not just read something he reads it in the middle of the night with just a candle for company. When Mr Utterson is decides to come home and read the Dr Jekyll’s will he does it in the middle of the night with a lighted candle. Strange as it is already Mr Utterson is now out of his normal routine as I said before he is always strict with himself, he does not like anything diverting him from his routine and now he is up late at night reading a will. The atmosphere changes even more for the worse when something is read in the will “In the case of the decease of Henry Jekyll, M.D., .C.L. LL.D, F.R.S., &C., all his possessions were to pass into the hands of his friend and benefactor Edward Hyde’; but that in the case of Dr Jekyll’s ’disappearance or unexplained absence exceeding three calendar months’, the said Edward Hyde should step into the said Henry Jekyll’s shoes without further delay, and free from any burthen or obligation, beyond the payment of a few small sums to members of the doctors household.” This seems a bit peculiar as why would Jekyll want to make sure that this is in his will, is it because he is being blackmailed. There are many mysteries now that have come up and can no longer be restricted. This is an important part of the book which needs to have a lot of atmosphere; it is like Stevenson has underlined it with atmosphere to show how important this is.
In conclusion Stevenson, the author has tried and succeeded at creating a sense of mystery, horror and tension. Throughout the book he has been building up tension. There are a lot of techniques used in the first two chapters mainly associated with Mr Hyde. Stevenson makes Mr Hyde the object of mystery, horror and tension
