Original Text(~250 words)
Nearly a year later, in the month of October, 18—, London was startled by a crime of singular ferocity and rendered all the more notable by the high position of the victim. The details were few and startling. A maid servant living alone in a house not far from the river, had gone upstairs to bed about eleven. Although a fog rolled over the city in the small hours, the early part of the night was cloudless, and the lane, which the maid’s window overlooked, was brilliantly lit by the full moon. It seems she was romantically given, for she sat down upon her box, which stood immediately under the window, and fell into a dream of musing. Never (she used to say, with streaming tears, when she narrated that experience), never had she felt more at peace with all men or thought more kindly of the world. And as she so sat she became aware of an aged beautiful gentleman with white hair, drawing near along the lane; and advancing to meet him, another and very small gentleman, to whom at first she paid less attention. When they had come within speech (which was just under the maid’s eyes) 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; but the moon shone on...
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Summary
A brutal murder shatters London's sense of safety when Mr. Hyde savagely beats Sir Danvers Carew to death with a walking stick. A maid witnesses the entire attack from her window - she sees an elderly, distinguished gentleman politely asking directions from a small, unpleasant man. Without warning, Hyde explodes into murderous rage, clubbing Carew to death with animalistic fury. The violence is so extreme it breaks the heavy wooden cane in half. When police investigate, they discover the victim is a prominent Member of Parliament, making this a crime that will shake society. Utterson recognizes the broken walking stick as one he gave to Dr. Jekyll years ago, confirming his worst fears about Hyde. The lawyer leads police to Hyde's Soho apartment, where they find evidence of hasty escape - burned papers, ransacked rooms, but also luxury furnishings that seem impossible for someone of Hyde's apparent means. The landlady's reaction reveals Hyde is universally despised, even by those who serve him. Most disturbing is the discovery that Hyde has vanished completely - few people know him, he's never been photographed, and those who've seen him can only agree on one thing: he radiates an inexplicable sense of deformity that haunts everyone who encounters him. This chapter transforms Hyde from a mysterious figure into a wanted murderer, raising the stakes dramatically while deepening the mystery of his connection to the respectable Dr. Jekyll.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Member of Parliament
An elected representative in Britain's government, similar to a US Congressman. In Victorian times, MPs were exclusively wealthy, educated men from the upper class. Being an MP meant you had serious political power and social standing.
Modern Usage:
Like when a scandal involves a Senator or Governor - the higher their position, the bigger the media storm and public outrage.
Soho
A London neighborhood that was already becoming known for vice, cheap lodgings, and people living on society's margins. It's where someone would go to disappear or live anonymously among other outcasts.
Modern Usage:
Like the sketchy part of town where people go when they don't want to be found - think rundown motels or abandoned warehouse districts.
Walking stick/cane
Not just for mobility - in Victorian times, a gentleman's walking stick was a status symbol and fashion accessory. Heavy, expensive canes showed wealth and respectability, often passed down through families.
Modern Usage:
Like designer watches or luxury cars today - objects that signal your social class and success to others.
Fog
London's infamous thick fog wasn't just weather - it was created by coal smoke and pollution. The fog became a symbol of moral confusion and hidden evil in Victorian literature.
Modern Usage:
Like how we use storms or darkness in movies to signal that something bad is about to happen.
Maid servant
A working-class woman employed to clean and maintain a household. Maids were often the only witnesses to upper-class secrets because they were invisible to their employers - seen as furniture.
Modern Usage:
Like hotel housekeeping staff or home cleaners today - they see everything but are expected to stay silent about family drama.
Singular ferocity
Victorian way of saying the violence was unusually brutal and shocking. 'Singular' meant unique or extraordinary, not just 'single.' This suggests the attack was beyond normal criminal violence.
Modern Usage:
Like when news reports call a crime 'especially heinous' or 'unusually brutal' - violence that shocks even hardened cops.
Characters in This Chapter
Mr. Hyde
Murderer/antagonist
Commits a savage, unprovoked murder of an innocent man asking for directions. His explosive violence reveals the beast beneath his already disturbing exterior. Even his landlady despises him despite taking his money.
Modern Equivalent:
The rage-filled guy everyone crosses the street to avoid
Sir Danvers Carew
Victim
An elderly, distinguished Member of Parliament who approaches Hyde politely to ask directions. His murder represents an attack on everything decent and civilized in society. His high position makes the crime a public scandal.
Modern Equivalent:
The respected community leader who gets killed in a random attack
The maid
Witness
Provides the only eyewitness account of the murder. Her romantic, peaceful mood before witnessing the violence emphasizes how shocking and evil Hyde's attack was. Her testimony will be crucial evidence.
Modern Equivalent:
The bystander whose cell phone video goes viral and breaks the case
Utterson
Investigator/protagonist
Recognizes the broken walking stick as one he gave to Jekyll, confirming his worst fears about the connection between Jekyll and Hyde. Leads police to Hyde's apartment, uncovering more disturbing evidence.
Modern Equivalent:
The family friend who realizes their loved one is involved in something terrible
Hyde's landlady
Minor character/informant
Her obvious hatred and fear of Hyde, despite his paying rent, shows that even people who profit from him find him repulsive. She's eager to help police catch him.
Modern Equivalent:
The landlord who's happy to see their terrible tenant finally get arrested
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when suppressed emotions are reaching dangerous levels before they explode destructively.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're swallowing anger or frustration—track the pattern and find one safe outlet (exercise, venting to a friend, writing) before it builds up.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Never had she felt more at peace with all men or thought more kindly of the world."
Context: The maid's peaceful mood just before witnessing Hyde's brutal murder
This sets up the horror by contrasting the maid's innocent, romantic state with the savage violence she's about to witness. It emphasizes how evil and shocking Hyde's attack truly is.
In Today's Words:
She was having one of those perfect moments where everything felt right with the world.
"The older man bowed and accosted the other with a very pretty manner of politeness."
Context: Describing how Sir Danvers Carew politely approached Hyde to ask directions
Shows Carew as the perfect gentleman, making Hyde's violent response completely unprovoked and inexcusable. The formal politeness makes the coming brutality even more shocking.
In Today's Words:
The old guy was super polite and respectful when he walked up to ask for help.
"And then all of a sudden he broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane, and carrying on like a madman."
Context: The moment Hyde explodes into murderous rage
The sudden transformation from normal conversation to animal fury shows Hyde's complete lack of self-control. The imagery of flame suggests hellish, demonic violence that comes from nowhere.
In Today's Words:
Then out of nowhere he just completely lost it, screaming and waving that stick around like a crazy person.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Hidden Violence - When Rage Finds Its Target
Suppressed emotions accumulate until they explode on the safest or most convenient target, often with disproportionate violence.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Hyde attacks Carew specifically because Carew represents everything respectable and dignified that Hyde can never be—the violence targets class privilege itself
Development
Builds on earlier class tensions, now erupting into literal violence against upper-class respectability
In Your Life:
You might feel this when dealing with condescending professionals or authority figures who make you feel 'less than.'
Identity
In This Chapter
Hyde's inability to be photographed or clearly described suggests he exists more as pure impulse than stable identity—he's becoming less human
Development
Develops from mysterious figure to something that defies normal human recognition and memory
In Your Life:
You see this when people become so consumed by anger or addiction that others say 'I don't recognize them anymore.'
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The murder shocks society because it violates the basic expectation that gentlemen don't commit savage violence—it breaks the social contract
Development
Previous chapters showed tension between public respectability and private desires; now that tension explodes publicly
In Your Life:
You experience this when someone you trusted to behave 'properly' suddenly reveals their capacity for cruelty or betrayal.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Even Hyde's landlady despises him despite his money—he's universally repulsive on an instinctual level that transcends social roles
Development
Expands on Hyde's social isolation, showing that his toxicity affects everyone who encounters him
In Your Life:
You recognize this in people who consistently have problems with everyone around them, yet never see themselves as the common factor.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Hyde represents the complete opposite of growth—he's becoming more primitive, more violent, less capable of human connection
Development
Introduced here as the dark mirror of development, showing what happens when we feed our worst impulses
In Your Life:
You see this in yourself or others when bad habits or toxic behaviors gradually take over more of your life and relationships.
Modern Adaptation
When the Promotion Goes Sideways
Following Henry's story...
Marcus thought he had it under control. For months, he'd swallowed every slight at the warehouse—younger guys getting overtime while he got passed over, supervisors treating him like he was invisible, his ideas dismissed in meetings. He kept his head down, stayed professional, told himself it would pay off. Then came the promotion announcement: the team lead position he'd been promised went to Derek, the manager's nephew who'd been there six months. That night at O'Malley's, when some drunk college kid bumped into him and didn't apologize, something snapped. The fight was brutal, quick, and completely out of character. Security cameras caught it all. Now Marcus faces assault charges, job termination, and a reputation in ruins. The kid's father is a lawyer. The warehouse is 'reviewing their hiring practices.' All that suppressed rage found its target in the worst possible moment, destroying everything Marcus had worked to build.
The Road
The road Hyde walked in 1886, Marcus walks today. The pattern is identical: suppressed rage doesn't disappear—it accumulates until it finds an acceptable target and explodes with devastating consequences.
The Map
This chapter provides a pressure gauge for accumulated anger. Marcus can learn to recognize when frustration is building and create safe outlets before it destroys everything he's worked for.
Amplification
Before reading this, Marcus might have thought staying quiet and professional was always the right move. Now he can NAME the pressure building, PREDICT when he's most vulnerable to explosion, NAVIGATE toward healthy outlets before the damage is done.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific details make Hyde's attack on Carew so shocking, and how does the community react to this crime?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think Hyde chose Carew as his victim, and what does the extreme violence tell us about what's been building inside Hyde?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern of suppressed anger exploding on 'safer' targets in workplaces, families, or online interactions today?
application • medium - 4
If you notice pressure building up inside yourself—frustration at work, anger at home—what healthy outlets could you create before you 'explode' on the wrong person?
application • deep - 5
What does Hyde's complete disappearance after the murder reveal about how we hide our worst impulses, and when might this hiding become dangerous?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Pressure Points
Think about the last week. Identify three moments when you felt anger or frustration but had to 'keep it together.' Map out: What triggered it? Where did that energy go? Who did you interact with afterward? Look for patterns in when you suppress emotions and where they might leak out later.
Consider:
- •Notice if certain situations consistently build pressure (difficult customers, family stress, work deadlines)
- •Pay attention to who becomes your 'safe target' when you're overwhelmed (family, friends, strangers online)
- •Consider whether your outlets are healthy (exercise, talking) or potentially harmful (snapping at others, road rage)
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you held in frustration all day and then exploded over something small. What was really bothering you, and how could you handle that pressure differently next time?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 5: The Forged Letter's Secret
In the next chapter, you'll discover people in crisis make desperate choices that compromise their integrity, and learn professional advisors sometimes enable bad decisions through willful blindness. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.