This sense of mystery is portrayed again by Stevenson, in the way he describes uttersons lifestyle and personality. “He never marked a shade of change in his demeanour.” This makes utterson sound like an old fashioned, cold hearted man, therefore creating a sense of mystery.
Now the reader has been told of uttersons looks and what his personality is like, now the writer informs the reader about uttersons stature and influence on people around him. “The last good influence of the lives of down going men.” This foreshadows what is going to happen later on in the novel and that Mr Utterson may be involved, this creates a sense of mystery and horror about what is to come.
These quotations about the lawyer, utterson, from the opening page, act as an early piece of foreshadowing because why else would Stevenson want to tell the reader these facts about utterson, if these attributes were not to be put to the test within the course of the novel. Will he be able to tolerate the horror awaiting him, namely the case of doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde?
The next character which has a mayor part in this novel is the alter ego of Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde. He is a character which is rarely seen, but is always spoken of. “The man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.” This incident of having the little girl injured is just a simple piece of foreshadowing, showing Hyde’s power and attitude, later he will murder will cause pain again, this causes a strong sense of horror about this gruesome, violent character. This piece of foreshadowing also makes the reader think that if this character can cause this kind of pain to another person, so early in the novel, the sense of horror and mystery makes the reader think will he do it again and who to.
A sense of mystery is created in the opening chapter when Mr Enfield says, “no sir I had delicacy; was the reply; I feel very strongly about putting questions.” This holding back of information, through a character, helps to create the suspense and mystery. Like utterson the reader wants to find out more about Hyde.
“There is something wrong with his appearance; ….something downright detestable.” The physical description of the character Hyde is mysterious, as if he is seen as horrifying, “….he gives a strong feeling of deformity.” But it is not obvious, more of a feeling or a presents.
Dr Jekyll is a character which is only described in the eyes of the other characters. ”he began to go wrong, wrong in the mind….” This description of Jekyll by Dr lanyon creates a sense of mystery and horror because, it make jekyll’s character sound like a man who is starting to change, in his sense of lifestyle and the way he treats his friends. If his own friends think that he is going wrong in the mind, it must mean that something has changed about him or something is making him change.
Dr Jekyll is the central character of this novel, so any description or hints about him in this book will be closely read and remembered. “He was wild when he was young; a long while ago, to be sure; but in the law of god there is no statue of limitations.” This description of Jekyll, about when he was young, tells the reader that he was a bad youngster. Maybe something has come back from his past to taunt him. “Punishment coming….years after memory has forgotten and self-love condoned the fault.” This creates a sense of mystery and horror because; maybe something bad is going to happen to Jekyll.
The house which is occupied by Dr Jekyll also creates a sense of mystery and horror, but the house is not the only part of jekylls estate, there is also a laboretory. The buildings are connected but look out on two different streets, because of this convolved layout, the reader cannot detect that the structures are two parts of a whole, just as the reader would not be able to detect the strong relationship between Jekyll and Hyde, just by reading the first two chapters. Mr Enfield’s description of the front house aforementioned continues to add mystery. “It is scarcely a house….the windows are always shut….there is a chimney, which is generally smoking, so somebody must live there, and yet it’s not sure.” This makes the atmosphere more mysterious.
Jekylls laboratory is also described to create a sense of mystery and horror, however, what creates a really obvious sense of mystery is the way it is made to stand out in the street, and also because the surrounding properties are the complete opposite. “….with it’s freshly painted shutters, well polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gayety of notes….” Again, foreshadowing of cinester goings on at this property is clear; but also the use of description to create a given atmosphere, there is something cold and clearly un-welcoming about this place.
The money and the will is the main reason that utterson is getting suspicious about Hyde and Jekyll. The first incident, involving money, was when Hyde was ordered to pay compensation for the damage he caused to the little girl he trampled over in the street. The way that Hyde came about this money was very suspicious, “….a man does not, in real life, walk into a cellar door at four in the morning and come out with another man’s cheque for close upon a hundred pounds.” With this happening so early in the novel, the reader would not know that Hyde is Jekyll and that the door goes through to the main house on the other side, with this happening so early the reader would not know this, so it will look very suspicious, that a man such as Hyde would have this other mans cheque and it being signed, this creates a strong sense of mystery.
Now further on into the first two chapters we come along a will which is in the possession of Mr Utersson. The will is Dr Jekylls. “There he opened his safe, took from the most private part of it a document endorsed on the envelope as Dr Jekylls will.” This creates a sense of mystery because why is utterson reading this will now, is this foreshadowing that it will be needed soon, will Jekyll die.
In the will it explains that all Dr Jekylls possessions were to be passed to the shady character, Hyde, if Jekyll disappeared for more than three calendar months. This is maybe foreshadowing that Jekyll is going to go missing or die. It also creates a sense of mystery and horror involving Hyde, will he kill Jekyll to get his fortune.
All the points I have made, really give a strong answer to this question. The writer uses clever description techniques to describe the characters, the surroundings and the storyline so far in the first two chapters. All these descriptions create a sense of horror and mystery. The clever use of foreshadowing also creates a strong sense of horror and mystery, because it makes the reader think that maybe something mysterious and horrifying is going to happen in the rest of the novel. The first two chapters were vital to this book because it is when the reader gets to know the characters and a short synopsis of the rest of the book.
By
Andrew saunders
Word count=1,364
