The remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

The entire nineteenth century was often concerned with the concept of a ‘double self’ or ‘twin’, often referred to as a
Doppelgänger.
This 19 th century genre began with a story about a type of double, when Dr Frankenstein created his monster in 1818.
The Doppelgänger was a good excuse to explore a darker side of human nature.
It has been argued that Hyde is Jekyll’s doppelgänger. This allows
Jekyll to murder and steal without feeling guilt.

Create a Mr Hyde head. Add to the following quotes and place them inside his head
• Heavy cane
• Ill-contained impatience
• Great flame of anger
• Stamping of his foot
• Brandishing his cane
• Mad man
• Small
• Wicked looking

CHARACTER RE-CAP
Match the Character with the description
1. Dr. Henry
Jekyll/Edward Hyde
2. Dr. Lanyon
3. Mr. Utterson
4. Poole
5. Mr Enfield
6. Sir Danvers Carew
A. Dr. Jekyll's butler.
B. A friend of Jekyll, he disagrees with his scientific principles.
C. A kind old man and an MP – he was brutally murdered by Hyde.
D. The lawyer, whose character plays the part of narrator.
E. Mr. Utterson's acquaintance, he is the first to mention Hyde to Utterson.
F. A doctor who has covered up a secret life full of bad and cruel deeds, he feels as if he is always fighting within himself between what is good and what is evil.

1. Why has Mr. Utterson become calm again in regard to Mr. Hyde?
• Mr. Hyde has disappeared- he left his house
2. What “new life” has begun for Dr. Jekyll?
• He has become healthy again- he is out againgiving dinner parties
3. Why does Mr. Utterson visit Dr. Lanyon?
• He is concerned about Jekyll’s health because
Poole keeps turning him away.

1. Is it a pleasant visit? Why or why not?
• No, Dr. Lanyon is very ill- he does not want to see Jekyll any more
2. Why does Mr. Utterson write to Dr. Jekyll?
He asks Jekyll why he and Lanyon are fighting
3. What does Dr. Jekyll ask Mr. Utterson to do?
• He asks Utterson to respect him by giving him privacy and solitude and refers to something terrible he has done.

1. What happens to Dr. Lanyon?
• He dies.
2. What is strange, in Mr. Utterson’s opinion, about this quote in Lanyon’s letter?
“… not to be opened till the death or disappearance of Dr. Henry Jekyll.”
• It is the same words used in Dr. Jekyll’s will
3. Does Mr. Utterson’s view of Dr. Jekyll change?
• No, but he soon stops visiting Jekyll as much because he gets turned away

Find the phrases that describe the changes in Dr
Lanyon
• “he had his death-warrant written legibly upon his face”
• “rosy man had grown pale”
• “his flesh fallen away”
• “he was visibly balder and older”
• “deep-seated terror”
• “ill looks”
• “a doomed man”

Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon – Answer these questions in full sentences
1. What is it exactly that frightens Dr Lanyon? What does Stevenson suggest he has learnt more about when he says that if we knew all we would be glad to die?
2. Where and why does the symbol of the locked door reappear in this chapter?
3. Find another example of something being locked or sealed against Mr
Utterson.
4. The Police are investigating Hyde’s life. During the past year, he has apparently practised many vile and violent deeds. Find quotes from the first paragraph to back this statement up. (These ‘deeds’, it can only be supposed, refer to unsuitable sexual behaviour; something that was not only frowned upon by the Victorians, but also feared.)
5. What do you think the following statement means: ‘The death of Sir Danvers was, to his way of thinking, more than paid for by the disappearance of Mr
Hyde.’ Do you agree?
6. Explain Utterson’s reluctance to read Lanyon’s statement until after ‘the death or disappearance ‘ of Dr Jekyll.
Extension: Should he have opened the letter or not? Explain your views.