Jekyll and Hyde Chapter 9

Jekyll and Hyde Chapter 9

1. Lanyon's narrative is a flash-back

   • Lanyon's letter takes reader back to middle of the main narrative
     • Shifting narrative makes the story feel quite fragmented, as if the truth is only being revealed in parts
   • Before Jekyll shut himself away, he sent a letter asking Lanyon to force open his cabinet and take one of the drawers
   • The "blood-red" colour of the chemicals in the drawer hints at the sinister and mysterious nature of Jekyll's experiments
     • Even though Lanyon can "make no sense" at what some of the chemicals are - shows how far Jekyll has strayed from traditional science
   • In this chapter, we finally hear what scared Lanyon in Chapter 6
     • First person narrative makes events seem more believable

2. Lanyon meets Hyde for the first time

   • When the messenger arrives, Lanyon doesn't know that it is Hyde - but the reader does
     • This creates tension - we know what he is capable of
   • Hyde arrives at midnight - Stevenson frequently links Hyde with the night to emphasise his link with secret deeds and hidden desires
   • Lanyon also experiences odd feeling that other characters have around Hyde
     • Lanyon thought this was just "personal distaste", but later realises it's caused by something "much deeper in the nature of man"
     • Dual Nature of Man
       • Meeting Hyde causes Lanyon to confront an unpleasant truth about human nature - that everyone has evil side

3. Lanyon's curiosity leads him to discover Jekyll's secret

   • Hyde asks Lanyon if the "greed of curiosity" has got the better of him and offers to let Lanyon watch him take the potion - Lanyon sees him turn into Jekyll
     • Hyde says if Lanyon sees Jekyll's discovery, it would open "new avenues to fame and power", but it would also "stagger the unbelief of Satan" - shows how knowledge which challenges God's order is both attractive and dangerous
   • Stevenson describes the transformation vividly - Hyde's face became "suddenly black"
     • Detail highlights how distressing it would be to witness
   • After seeing the transformation, Lanyon says that his "life is shaken to its roots"
     • Everything he believes in has been shattered - Jekyll has proven to Lanyon that the type of science he denied is real
   • Although this chapter gives more information - Stevenson doesn't explain why the transformation happened
     • There are some things that only Jekyll can explain, which increases anticipation