The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Ch 4

[Silver]

Please post your thoughts and questions here and be aware if you have not finished this chapter spoilers may be posted here.

[Silver]

Was the murder of Mr. Carew a purely random act? Or considering the connection between Mr. Utterson and Dr. Jekyll, and perhaps particularly the fact that Mr. Utterson argued against the will leaving everything to Mr. Hyde did Mr. Hyde target Mr. Carew intentionally?

It seems a curious "coincidence" that Mr.Caerew was in possession of papers he was delivering to Mr. Utterson when he was attacked.

Though if there was something within the papers relating to Mr. Hyde, I don't think he would have left them behind.

[Deborah, Moderator]

It appeared to be a random act to me. I'm not clear how the papers relate, if they do, to Hyde. The "coincidence" could be purely to keep the story connected.

[Silver]

I took the attack to be random, considering what seems to be Mr. Hyde's erratic behavior, with the trampling of the girl and his not seeming to care if others witness his heinous and criminal acts.

But the fact that Carew was carrying papers for Mr. Utterson seemed like it might have some significance. Particularly since Mr. Utterson is investigating Mr. Hyde, and had objected to Jekyll's will.

[Everyman]

I'm on the fence. But one aspect might be that Hyde was aware that Utterson was stalking him, and was keeping a watch on Utterson (as he was on Hyde). Which is why if Carew had been asking about the way to Utterson's house (we are told that "the older man bowed and accosted the other with a very pretty manner of politeness. It did not seem as if the subject of his address were of great importance; indeed, from his pointing, it sometimes appeared as if he were only inquiring his way," then it might be a reason for Hyde to attack him.

[Everyman]

What's interesting to me is that we're told this is a year later. What has Utterson been doing in that year? Still looking into the question? Has Jekyll not having suffered any accident or injury assuaged his fears for his safety that the will might have raised? Why does Stevenson insert this quite long interlude?

[Silver]

Everyman wrote: "What's interesting to me is that we're told this is a year later. What has Utterson been doing in that year? Still looking into the question? Has Jekyll not having suffered any accident or injury a..."

That is a good question. I have not thought of that, but yes, I wonder for the reason for such a long passage of time between events.

I suppose prior to the murder Mr. Utterson simply could not find any more information about Mr. Hyde, and perhaps no further strange or outrageous events had occurred within that time.

Maybe becoming aware of Mr. Utterson's investigation of him Mr. Hyde decided to lie low. But than something caused him to snap and lose control in his encounter with Mr. Carew.

[Amy]

Didn't the witness say Hyde had had business with her master? There's another coincidence along with the letter. I think Stevenson just wanted to speed along identifying Hyde and getting the lawyer involved.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Silver wrote: "Everyman wrote: "What's interesting to me is that we're told this is a year later. What has Utterson been doing in that year? Still looking into the question? Has Jekyll not having suffered any acc..."

Or maybe just being near the door triggered the memory

[Everyman]

Amy wrote: "Didn't the witness say Hyde had had business with her master? There's another coincidence along with the letter. I think Stevenson just wanted to speed along identifying Hyde and getting the lawyer..."

If you're thinking that the witness worked for Utterson, I missed anything in the text that said so. It seemed to me that we don't have any idea who her master is, just another person Hyde had business with. Or did I miss something?

[Amy]

Maybe I'm not remembering it correctly. I thought she said she recognized Hyde because he had had business with her master.

[Silver]

Amy wrote: "Maybe I'm not remembering it correctly. I thought she said she recognized Hyde because he had had business with her master."

She said that recolonized Mr. Hyde because he once visited her master but as far as we know there is nothing to indicate that he master has any connection to Mr. Utterson, or Mr. Carew or any of the other characters.

[Everyman]

Amy wrote: "Maybe I'm not remembering it correctly. I thought she said she recognized Hyde because he had had business with her master."

Yes. But she didn't say who her master was, unless I missed it. And it sounded a bit as though she wasn't a live-in maid, but lived in her own rooms, though that's just a feeling from "A maid servant living alone in a house not far from the river, had gone up-stairs to bed about eleven." It wasn't just that she was alone that night, but that she was "living alone," which sounded to me as though it wasn't her master's house she was living in. But again, a guess.

[Amy]

It's not her master's house, which makes it pretty coincidental that she happens to recognize Hyde. I was just curious as to who her master is and what Hyde ' s business was.

[Everyman]

Amy wrote: "It's not her master's house, which makes it pretty coincidental that she happens to recognize Hyde. I was just curious as to who her master is and what Hyde ' s business was."

Good questions. Wonder whether we'll ever find out.

[Everyman]

Without saying anything that might be a spoiler, I think most of us, just from common knowledge of the phrase, know what the ultimate answer to the story is.

What I'm finding interesting is looking for all the clues which lead to that answer, since I do know it, and trying to see whether I think original readers should have figured it out. For me, it's not a mystery story, but for them, it very much would be.

[Silver]

Everyman wrote: "What I'm finding interesting is looking for all the clues which lead to that answer, since I do know it, and trying to see whether I think original readers should have figured it out. For me, it's not a mystery story, but for them, it very much would be. ."

I commented on the same thing in a previous thread. I cannot recall which one off the top of my head, but one of the chapters after this one. It is interesting the way in which Stevenson leads this sort of trail of breadcrumbs for the reader.

[Frances, Moderator]

I particularly enjoyed Stevenson's skill at writing this chapter-setting the gentle, peaceful scene, the gracious older man, the friendly meeting and then the explosion of violence seemingly out of nowhere. It serves to illustrate the uncontrolled, evil nature of Mr. Hyde, in stark contrast to the recent portrait of Dr Jekyll, the affable host to his friends and apparent benefactor of Mr Hyde himself.

The one other thing I noted here is that Hyde appears to have established himself in an independent residence and, if he had business with the maid's master, is clearly living some kind of life in the city apart from the time he spends at Dr Jekyll's, and he is living in a certain amount of luxury (I think the reader is meant to assume he is living off Dr Jekyll). He also fairly clearly has not endeared himself to his landlady, nor to the maidservant who had met him previously.