Jekyll and Hyde

Study Guide

Create a character web that shows the relationships between the following characters: Utterson,
Enfield, Guest, Lanyon, Jekyll, Poole

Utterson—Lawyer and friend of Jekyll; suspicious about the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde
Lanyon—colleague and friend of Jekyll; friend of Utterson; has broken with Jekyll over professional
differences; dies of shock after seeing Jekyll
Enfield—relative and friend of Utterson; witnessed Jekyll trample a girl; with Utterson at Jekyll’s
window
Guest—Utterson’s clerk; expert in handwriting
Poole—Jekyll’s butler

Explain how the following pieces of evidence contributed to Utterson’s understanding of Jekyll’s
relationship with Hyde:

Mr. Enfield’s story of Hyde trampling a girl—Hyde’s cruelty; others are disgusted by him
(characterization)
Check to Family of Girl Hyde Trampled, signed by Jekyll-Jekyll and Hyde are connected: Jekyll
helped Hyde
Jekyll’s (1st) Will-Jekyll leaves everything to Hyde; Is he being blackmailed or threatened by Hyde?

Dr. Lanyon’s opinion of Jekyll’s scientific interests-“Unscientific balderdash!”

Poole’s explanation of Hyde’s freedom in Jekyll’s house-Hyde can come and go as he pleases and
Jekyll ordered the servants to obey Hyde
Evidence found by body of Danvers Carew-part of a cane; other piece found at Hyde’s home;
Utterson recognizes it as a gift he gave to Jekyll years ago
Letter Jekyll gives to Utterson as assurance that Hyde is gone for good-Guest notices that Hyde and
Jekyll’s handwriting is identical, except for the slant
Poole’s revelation that no letters were delivered-all letters would be delivered to the butler; the
letter came from inside the house or were snuck in somehow
Lanyon’s shock and deteriorating health-Lanyon had an encounter with Jekyll that ruined his health
because he witnessed something horrific
Jekyll’s behavior when Enfield and Utterson visit with him at his window—he’s pleasant, but then
appears terrified and quickly withdraws; Enfield and Utterson see something that frightens them
Poole’s request for help from Utterson-Poole believes that someone is in Jekyll’s cabinet and may
have killed him
Letters Jekyll/Hyde has been passing to his servants-someone in the cabinet is leaving notes for the
servants requesting a certain kind of chemical with a specific date
Who Poole saw in Jekyll’s lab-a small man that was definitely not Jekyll

What Poole and Utterson find in Jekyll’s lab-Hyde dead, wearing Jekyll’s clothing

Jekyll’s revised will-Jekyll leaves everything to Utterson

Lanyon’s Letter
Who narrates this chapter?
Lanyon
What previous events are connected by this chapter?
Lanyon’s shock (which leads to his death) and the mystery of Jekyll and Hyde
What ‘mystery’ in the plot does this chapter reveal?
Jekyll and Hyde are the same person, who transitions back and forth with a chemical potion

Jekyll’s Letter
Who narrates this chapter?
Jekyll
What do we learn about Jekyll and Hyde’s consciousness in this chapter (think Bucky/Winter v.
Bruce/Hulk)?
Jekyll is present when he is Hyde, and Hyde is present when he is Jekyll, therefore, Jekyll
remembers what Hyde does, and Hyde remembers what Jekyll does. Both are aware of the other’s
opinion. Jekyll feels guilt for what Hyde does, and sometimes tries to undo the damage he has
caused, or atone in some way.

Order of Events
Write out the major events of the plot in chronological order, rather than the order in which they
appear in the narrative. Which elements occur in a different order in the narrative?
Lanyon and Jekyll’s letters: Jekyll’s letter takes place before and during the rest of the plot.
Lanyon’s letter takes place before Lanyon’s death. This maintains the mystery of how Jekyll and
Hyde are related.

Victorian Culture
How does this novella reflect issues with Victorian Culture?
Victorian culture had many, many intricate rules. Jekyll’s desperation to avoid those rules caused
him to unleash Hyde.
What is the difference between Morality and Propriety?
Morality is doing what is right, propriety is doing what is socially acceptable or normal.

Classical Culture
What does the mythical Ring of Gyges do?
Makes the wearer invisible
How did Glaucon use the story of the ring to make a claim about moral behavior in Plato’s Republic?
If a good person had the freedom to do bad things without the fear of being punished, he or she will.
Socrates disagreed, claiming that virtue is intrinsically good and benefits the person who chooses
good over evil.

Wrap-up questions
Do you think external conflict (think Utterson’s determination to discover the mystery of Jekyll and
Hyde) or internal conflict (Jekyll’s desire to break the rules of his society) is more interesting? Use
textual evidence from Jekyll and Hyde to explain why.

Often the names of Jekyll and Hyde are used to invoke the idea of a person who flips from all good
to all bad. Do you think Jekyll was a moral character: the opposite of Hyde’s pure evil? Explain why
or why not, using textual evidence.