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SPOILER ALERT! Warning, there will be spoilers for this book in this thread. Since all our discussion will most likely deal with the plot and themes of the book, I'm putting a disclaimer here instead of having everyone put things in spoiler tags.

Alright, welcome to the first meeting of the book club : D We're going to do a chapter a day format for the book "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" By Robert Louis Stevenson. We're talking about it chapter by chapter, but feel free to read ahead. However, if you want to discuss something that's ahead of where the group is at, please use spoilers.

Chapter a day is kind've slow for some people, I know, but this way we'll all have the chance to read it, since there won't be many pages, and we can carefully read the text, rather than just skimming.

So, chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Story of the Door (summary from here)

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Stevenson’s first chapter is a combination of three character profiles added to a brief account of a horrible atrocity. The first description is of Mr. Utterson, the main character and protagonist for much of the story. He is said to possess a "rugged countenance," yet somehow he is "loveable" and well received by all the people he meets. ... The second characterization is that of Mr. Richard Enfield, ... Despite the busy nature of both man’s professions, both never postpone their weekly Sunday afternoon walk through town. Walking one Sunday, the two men pass "a sinister block of building" which interrupts the natural flow of houses on the street. Soon Mr. Enfield reveals to Utterson a very haunting tale which relates to this building. He says that one time in the middle of the night he saw a small girl and a little man converging perpendicularly at the crossroads of a street. Enfield accounts, "Well, sir, the two ran into one another naturally enough at the corner; and then came the horrible part of the thing; for the man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground." Soon there is a big scene around the girl’s body. Enfield helps catch the little man and brings him back to the corner, where a doctor and the girl’s parents have gathered. The man quickly apologizes and tells them he will pay damages, asking them to name any amount of money. Finally the man retreats to the strange house which juts out on the street and comes back with gold and a check to cover the expense of the doctor and other such things. The check is in the name of a well respected man of the community which Enfield refuses to name. Finally Enfield describes the little man, named Mr. Hyde, in such a strangely evil way, the reader is almost overcome by suspicion of this man. Enfield admits, "There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point. He’s an extraordinary-looking man, and yet I really can name nothing out of the way."

So, build from the summary, raise/answer questions, discuss things, disagree, what have you. We'll let this chapter run till Sunday to give us plenty of time to cover everything. (I know I was late today, sorry) Then we'll do it day by day.

Happy readings! : D

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The world is a mess and I just need to... rule it.

It seems more like there was something about Mr. Hyde that the person didn't like one bit, and he wanted as little to do with him as possible.

After all, he did go to the bank and tell them he suspected forgery, rather than questioning the guy he hated further.

At least that's the way I see it.

Utterson is cast as some type of saint, or something. I find that interesting.

I guess in that light, it makes sense. It still doesn't feel like the right thing to do, but at least it's something a real person would do.

With what had just happened and the reaction that people constantly feel when they encounter Hyde; it was most likely that Enfeild didn't want a direct confrontation with Hyde and prefered to let the bank decide if it was a forgery.

Spoiler:

EDIT: As I read on, I find the book (or novella, really) not that extraordinary. The book seems to continue to repeat itself throughout, without adding much to characters other than Utterson (who seems to be getting braver and more confident in himself). Everyone else is just expressing a large amount of fear. I wished they'd had explored the whole duality between Jekyll and Hyde more (Perhaps they do, but I have but a mere 20 or so pages left to read), instead of just repeating everyone's loathing of him on sight.

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"It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims."
-Aristotle

Currently reading:
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick

Recently finished:
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

Chapter 2: The Search For Mr. Hyde

Quote:

Chapter two begins with Mr. Utterson returning to his home and soon going into his study where he pulls out the will of Dr. Jekyll, for whom he is the lawyer. The will states that after the death or prolonged absence of the doctor, all his assets will be given to Mr. Hyde. Now that Utterson knows that Hyde is the child trampler, he feels very uncomfortable with the will. Next, Utterson decides to visit Dr. Lanyon, an old friend from school and also an old friend of Dr. Jekyll. Soon Utterson asks Lanyon about Jekyll, saying, "Did you ever come across a protégé of his— one Hyde?" Lanyon admits that he’s never heard of the man, and the lawyer regretfully returns to his home. Utterson has a fitful night sleep in which he can’t escape thinking about Hyde. Finally he tells himself, "If he be Mr. Hyde, I shall be Mr. Seek." A few days later, Utterson comes upon Hyde on the street and soon confronts the villain. After a brief and peculiar conversation, Hyde retreats into the strange house for which he has the key. Utterson, having seen Hyde’s devilish face, stands alone by the door, "the picture of disquietude." Utterson now realizes why Enfield spoke of Hyde as the perfect symbol of evil and loathing. Eventually Utterson tries to visit Dr. Jekyll, but the doctor is not home, so Utterson leaves, thinking that if Hyde knows that he is in Jekyll’s will, "he may grow impatient to inherit." This begins Utterson’s suspicion that Hyde is out to murder Dr. Jekyll

I suppose it would be very tense and interesting, if everyone didn't already know the plot. Unfortunately, the red herring of Hyde's "blackmail" of Jekyll plays off wrong, for me, since I already know what happens. I have the feeling this particular part of the storyling will make up much of the novel, which is unfortunate, but oh well.

I also find it interesting that the servant doesn't seem to mind Mr. Hyde at all. And, save for trampling over a child, and that people seem to dislike him for no real reason, he doesn't seem like a terribly bad guy.

Ok, granted, walking over a kid in the street is pretty bad.

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Quote:

The world is a mess and I just need to... rule it.

This is no wear near as active as I hoped it would be.

I know, the only solution is to keep posting.

Maybe when we get into the chapters it'll be better.

Update a little later, guys

Everyone has pretty much said what I would say... :(

Library's not open now. I'll get it later.

Chapter 3: Dr. Jekyll was quite at ease.

Quote:

In chapter three, Mr. Utterson visits the home of Dr. Jekyll after being invited for a dinner party with several other distinguished guests. After all the other guests have left, Utterson remains to ask Dr. Jekyll about his will. Jekyll is very hesitant to speak about the specifics of his will, and asks Utterson to let it go. He admits, "...my position is a very strange— a very strange one. It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking." Later, Jekyll says that he can get rid of Mr. Hyde anytime he chooses. Yet the elderly doctor begs Utterson to support Hyde when he has passed away. Jekyll continues, "I only ask for justice; I only ask you to help him for my sake, when I am no longer here."

I'll let someone else start, so I don't say everything first : P

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Quote:

The world is a mess and I just need to... rule it.

So, I just finished with the first section. (Shut up, I forgot about this thread and was busy.) It's a little hard to get into, primarily because the ending is no longer a shock, but it's not bad.

It's an okay novella, but knowing the ending the book offers no real interest. It's not written well enough to be appealing otherwise as, say, Dracula is.