Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde as Horror Essay

How does Stevenson create the atmosphere of a horror story in the first three chapters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

In the first three chapters, in many ways Stevenson creates a sense of an atmospheric feeling. He creates uneasy tension right from the start in the way he describes Mr Utterson. His use of vivid vocabulary and descriptive writing throughout the start of this novel sets up the reader for a fascinating story to follow.

The first chapter reveals the true evil of Hyde's character and foreshadows future criminal acts. Enfield refers to Hyde as "really like Satan." A few lines later, Hyde comments "No gentleman but wishes to avoid a scene." Hyde's claim that he is a gentleman, especially after effectively trampling a young girl and leaving her in the street, is highly ironic. In contrast, Utterson is presented as the typical true Victorian gentleman who is loyal to his friends, no matter what. He is also very normal, searching for logical explanations in the very strange events surrounding Jekyll and Hyde. The steady building up of horror is achieved through a slow increase of calm gruesome detail, which begins in this chapter. We learn of a mysterious, dark, and violent Edward Hyde who is actually familiar with Dr. Jekyll.

In the second chapter, Utterson begins his detective work. He seeks out and meets Edward Hyde for the first time, and Utterson describes Hyde as, "pale and dwarfish, deformity, husky and murderous." He also notes that Hyde inspires "disgust and loathing and fear," but cannot pinpoint exactly why. The best that he can do is to call Hyde a "troglodyte", a savage being lesser than a man. Therefore we are constantly reminded that Hyde is parallel to the devil and evil, but it seems impossible to define the exact qualities that put fear in the minds of those people who are unfortunate that meet him. Common people automatically know that Hyde is ethically corrupt and evil. To support this view, Stevenson often describes Hyde as an animal, including imagery such as the "hissing intake of breath".

Utterson displays his normal approach to the increasingly strange issues throughout this chapter. Stevenson gives Utterson a highly disturbing dream chain, which surrounds the terrible actions of a faceless and monster-like Edward Hyde. Every time Utterson sleeps, he sees Hyde "glide more stealthily through sleeping houses, or move the more swiftly ... through wider labyrinths of lamp-lighted city, and at every street corner crush a child and leave her screaming." Clearly, Utterson is fascinated by the relationship between Hyde and Jekyll, and is convinced that there is something dark and menacing linking the two. Yet, Utterson stops short of allowing for a bizarre explanation, as any normal individual would. Utterson's obsession with Hyde allows for an admission of hidden sins and secrets running wild through Victorian London.

At the beginning of chapter 3, Dr. Jekyll is described as a "smooth-faced man of fifty with something of a slovish cast." As with Hyde, Jekyll's hypocritical character has left its mark on his features, although not as obvious as Hyde's apparent physical abnormality. In fact, Dr. Jekyll is dishonest with his closest friends and hides his scientific experiments. Throughout the chapter, Jekyll lies to Utterson, one of his closest and most loyal friends, which sets up Hyde's evilness, which will overpower over the otherwise respectable Jekyll. Interestingly, Jekyll also believes he can be "rid of Hyde at any point," which later proves to be tragically false.

The first three chapters tell the reader a lot. We are in store for a fascinating story. The clear evidence of evil and horror is portrayed in Stevensons language. His use of some what gruesome words and his use of effective imagery leave the reader to ponder what may happen next.

Chapter 4 reveals the true extent of Mr. Hydes evilness. Without getting wound up he rather ruthlessly murders an innocent man who we come to know as Sir Danvers Carew. Enfield having witnessed Hyde trampling a young innocent girl but in contrast to this brutal murder he did not kill nor seriously injure this young innocent soul. To the reader it seems the only reason Hyde commits such an act is to display his ever growing power and ruthlessness. During this chapter Utterson is loyal and protective. When questioned by the police he voluntarily gives them information to find the evil Hyde but he doesnt reveal the connection between Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. By doing this rather brave, but perhaps fatal act Utterson himself displays himself as a loyal member of society who wants to capture the murderer but is still acting loyal towards Dr Jekyll. Earlier in the book Utterson has terrible dreams in which Hyde causes havoc in the streets of London. In this eventful chapter his dreams become a reality. He anticipated Hyde wreaking havoc and on his way to the murder Utterson notes how the London fog makes the city appear as thought it is in a nightmare. Stevenson uses very descriptive imagery in this part, like he did in Utterson's dream, to attract the reader into the work and create a powerful and unforgettable experience.

Chapter 5 steadily reveals the contrast between Utterson and Jekyll. Utterson is still quite the true Gentleman of Victorian times taking pride in his appearance over anything else.