The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

To balance the complexity of the previous chapter, Chapter 3 consists of a single scene. The purpose of this is to finally introduce Dr. Jekyll and offer a glimpse of Jekyll’s and Utterson’s relationship. Jekyll has a “sincere and warm affection” (65) for Utterson. He is visibly uncomfortable about the subject of Hyde: “The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes” (66). At the mention of Hyde, Jekyll fumbles and becomes irritable. Despite his jovial and hearty front, it is apparent that Jekyll harbors a dark secret.

Utterson confronts Jekyll about his relationship with Hyde: “Jekyll, you know me: I am a man to be trusted. Make a clean breast of this in confidence; and I make no doubt that I can get you out of it” (66). In this moment, we are left to wonder how the story would have gone had Jekyll opened his heart to his friend and confessed the truth, instead of remaining closed inside his private trauma.