Stevenson uses this technique of using stories told by characters in person or through letters because it makes the reader very interested in the story and makes them begin to ask questions to themselves. Stevenson uses this technique time and time again in this novel which has worked affective through out the novel.
In the second paragraph, the mystery continues and the reader is interested even more. At this point Utterson goes home that night and reads Jekyll’s will.
He finds out that in the event of the death or disappearance of Jekyll, all of his property should be given over immediately to Mr. Edward Hyde. Stevenson makes the reader think that Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll by saying “ It was worse when it began to be clothed upon with detestable attributes; and out of the shifting, insubstantial mists that had so long baffled his eye, there leaped up the sudden, definite presentment of a fiend.”
Stevenson again, uses a word like “fiend” to show that Hyde is a cruel or wicked person. Now Utterson lets the reader know that he intends to solve the mystery by going to Dr Lanyon’s house for some information on this issue. We are first introduced to Lanyon who is a friend of Utterson and Jekyll. But Lanyon has never heard of Hyde and has fallen out of communication with Jekyll as a result of a professional disagreement. He is the first character to mention Jekyll’s experiments, which he describes them as “too fanciful for him”.
Another character is introduced to the reader, who is Poole, Jekyll’s servant.
This adds to the mystery because Poole tells Utterson that Jekyll hardly leaves his laboratory and cabinet and that all servants have been ordered by Jekyll to
obey all of Hyde’s commands. This makes the reader think what is Hyde doing to Jekyll to get all these things done for him even though Stevenson is hinting it is black mail.
In the next chapter, the reader is finally introduced to Jekyll at one of his well-attended dinner parties. Stevenson’s technique to introduce him in a chapter where he is being sociable and at ease because it adds to the mystery and we know that there is more to him than meets the eye. Utterson stays late so that the two of them can speak privately. Utterson mentions the will, and Jekyll begins to make a joke about it, but he turns pale when Utterson tells him that he has been “learning something of young Hyde.” Jekyll explains that the situation with Hyde is something that cannot be solved by talking. Stevenson gives us a clue which is the only one, which is that Jekyll makes Utterson promise that he will carry out his will and testament.
Stevenson makes the case still a mystery until chapter seven where it really starts to in ways to unravel, if the reader has begun to work it out. At this point of the novel, Utterson and Enfield are taking a stroll. Whilst walking they see Jekyll at his window. Jekyll complains that he feels “very low,” and Utterson suggests that he join them for a walk, to help his circulation. Jekyll refuses, saying that he cannot go out. They carry on talking then a look of terror arises Jekyll’s face, and he quickly shuts the window and vanishes. Utterson and Enfield walk on in silence. Stevenson has done this so, by now the story has become at the very least, a horrible and frightening one.
Out of everything that is read up to this bit, this is by far is the most dramatic and action packed chapter in the novel (chapter 8). This chapter is about when Poole goes to Utterson to tell him to come quickly to Mr Jekyll’s house. At this moment Poole is terrified. Stevenson does this so that the readers know that where there going, is where Poole is scared about. To make the reader any more tense Stevenson makes the journey dark and windy with deserted streets. Also when Utterson arrives with Poole, he finds the servants gathered fearfully in the main hall. The action continues as they now have to break into his cabinet (the room next to his laboratory) where they find Hyde dying. Stevenson does this at this point of the novel because it means the reader is very close to finding out the answer to the mystery. Another clue that Stevenson gives for the reader to find out the answer to the mystery is that Hyde is wearing clothes of Jekyll also which are too big for him. We know this because it says “He was dressed in clothes far too large for him, clothes of the doctor’s bigness.”
