Jekyll and Hyde

In scene 3 (pgs 19-22) Stevenson tells of a conversation between Utterson and Lanyon in which unknown to the reader Lanyon has just seen Hyde for the first time.

''Utterson, I swear to god' cried the doctor, 'I swear to god I will never set eyes on him again''.

This ties in to the description given in scene 2 of Hyde as the reader is able to understand why Lanyon is so startled by the sight.

This also creates suspense because the reader has not been told what exactly Lanyon has seen. Revealed later in the book, Lanyon actually saw the transformation of Jekyll into Hyde.

Another example of Stevenson using characterisation in this scene is;

''I have had what is far more to the purpose' returned the doctor solemnly: 'I have had a lesson- o god, Utterson, what a lesson I have had!''.

This relates to Dr Lanyon's and Dr Jekyll's past friendship. Lanyon always knew that Jekyll had a fascination with split personalities and change from one thing to another, but he never knew that Jekyll was experimenting on how to do this transformation,

In scene 4 (pgs 23-33) Stevenson creates tension by using the word 'mystery', which leaves the reader wanting to know more.

'Utterson... trudged back to his office to read the two narratives in which the mystery was how to be explained'

By using this phrase Stevenson has left the reader wanting to know more about this 'mystery' which encourages them to read on to discover this.

One way in which Stevenson uses the atmosphere and setting to create suspense is by using the weather to let the reader predict that something is going to happen whether it being good or bad.

'It was a wild, cold, seasonable night of March, with a pale moon'

This prepares the reader for something bad to happen. By using this technique the reader is able to get themselves involved in the story and start to relate with the characters.

In scene 5 (pgs 39-41) Stevenson mostly uses characterisation to create suspense.

'Strange to relate, this ludicrous accoutrement was far from moving me to laughter.'

Here Lanyon is describing the fact that Hyde's clothes are too big for him. In my opinion this is when the reader starts to piece together the similarities between Hyde and Jekyll and realise that there is in some way a connection between them.

At one point in this scene he does not tell the reader what is happening completely and this is another way in which he creates tension.

'What he told me in the next hour I cannot bring my mind to set on paper'

Stevenson does not tell the reader what he has been told which makes the reader want to read on a find out.

To conclude I believe Robert Louis Stevenson creates tension and suspense in many ways but uses characterisation the most, usually on Hyde who is portrayed as a twisted and unstable character.