Amy Smith
Stevenson first introduces Dr Hastie Lanyon when Utterson goes to seek his help. Lanyon is described as a “hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentleman… [with] a boisterous and decided manner”. Here, Stevenson is at pains to emphasise Lanyon’s energy and enthusiasm for life, as well as his...
Amy Smith
It might be surprising that a novel entitled The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde begins with a description of an entirely different character: Mr Utterson. Stevenson places Utterson in the position of the detective, whose task is to gather knowledge relating to the mystery of Jekyll and Hyde...
Amy Smith
Stevenson introduces Hyde through Enfield’s description of the trampling of the young girl. Enfield recalls that Hyde was “like some damned Juggernaut” – a simile which reinforces his strength, violence, and inhumane callousness – going on to say that he “trampled calmly over the child’s body”....
Amy Smith
In a novel entitled The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, it may seem strange that Jekyll is introduced fairly far into the text: this allows Stevenson to build tension and mystery around the novel’s protagonist. When Jekyll is introduced, he is presented as a wealthy and educated gentleman...