Late in chapter 3, in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the word him is in bold. When Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson are having a conversation about Dr. Jekyllâs will, Dr. Jekyll says to Utterson: ââI donât ask that,ââ pleaded Jekyll, laying his hand upon the otherâs arm; ââI only ask for justice; I only ask you to help him for my sake, when I am no longer here.ââ Dr. Jekyll refers the word âhimâ as he speaks to Mr. Utterson, in which the word âhimâ is Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde is âhimâ because we already know from pasts chapters that Mr. Utterson reads Dr. Jekyllâs will and realizes that if he dies or disappears all his fortune will be given to Mr. Hyde, a very mysterious man who Mr. Utterson didnât like very much. Due to his previous and probably future actions.
Moreover, the word âhimâ in bold is ironic because Dr. Jekyll asked Mr. Utterson to be just to Mr. Hyde, to give him his rights. This is very ironic because Mr. Utterson knows who Mr. Hyde is, he knows the things he has done, which makes it really hard for him to believe why Dr. Jekyll likes him and he wants to leave his fortune to him. In a way I believe that Dr. Jekyll knows what Mr. Hyde is capable of and thatâs why every time Mr. Utterson says things to question Mr. Hydeâs integrity the doctor defends him. For example, Mr. Utterson told Dr. Jekyll âI have been learning something of young Hyde.â however, the Dr.Jekyll replied âI do not care to hear more,â said he. âThis is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop.â Every time Mr. Utterson tries to aks Dr. Jekyll a question either about Mr. Hyde or the situation that heâs going through, Dr. Jekyll acts in a weird/nervous way which makes Mr. Utterson and myself wonder what is really happening with Mr.Hyde and Dr. Jekyll, why are they so mysterious? Are they hiding something? And why is Dr.Jekyll nervous or is he just scared?
Fantastic post Yarlin. Good questions and good close reading of “him.”
-Prof. Scanlan