Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Chapter 1 summary

Seite 1

Summary

Key moments: Mr Utterson and Mr Enfield are on a 3AM Sunday walk as they come across a street that stands out compared to others in the area With people doing well still hoping that they can do better and shops with a sense of invitation, the street has a busy trade on the weekdays. They come across a house with no windows, looking very much dilapidated and a blistered door where all the paint has been worn off. A man was walking a good walk whilst a girl of an age between 8 or 10 was running at full speed round the corner, they then collided but the man trampled calmly over her as she screamed. Many people then surrounded them along with the girl' family and a doctor, all had a look of disgust at the man. Then they declared they would ruin his reputation as at the time, reputation was everything to victorians so he offered to pay £100 to the girl's family. Seeing as the man gave them the check which just happened to belonging to Dr Jekyll, they all then waited for the next day to cash in the cheque. Mr Utterson claiming that the cheque is forgery but alas it wasn't. Finally Mr Enfield reveals the truth about the man who is named Mr Hyde who is not easy to describe. Then Mr Enfield makes a bargain with Mr Utterson to never refer to it ever again.

Key Characters: Mr Utterson- a mid mannered man who doesn't let himself indulge in the finer things in life, drinking gin instead of vintage wine, enjoyed the theatre although not stepping foot into one in twenty years. Mr Enfield- a well-known man who likes to have fun and is also a man-about-town. Mr Hyde- an un-describable man who is vile and cruel to anyone he comes across and will not ever have a care in the world on what damage he will do.

Key quotes: 'Let us make a bargain never to refer to this again.' 'blind forehead of discoloured wall on the upper.' 'for the man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming.' 'the door which was equipped with neither bell nor knocker, was blistered and distained.

Key themes: Horror, social rejection, mystery, contrast.