Face to Face with Evil
The famous wordplay "If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek" perfectly captures the hero versus villain dynamic. Utterson's determination to uncover the truth positions him as Hyde's moral opposite.
When Hyde finally appears, his snake-like qualities emerge immediately—"hissing intake of breath" connects him to the biblical serpent of temptation. Yet interestingly, Hyde shows hesitation before "fronted about with an air of defiance," suggesting Jekyll still maintains some control over his dark alter ego.
Hyde's angry outburst—"He never told you!"—provides the first major clue to his true identity. This emotional slip reveals his intimate knowledge of Jekyll's thoughts and feelings, momentarily dropping his carefully constructed mask.
Character insight: The description of Hyde as "troglodytic" cave−dwellingsavage emphasises how he doesn't belong in respectable Victorian society.
Jekyll's house serves as a powerful metaphor for his dual nature. The wealthy residence surrounded by decay mirrors Jekyll himself—outwardly respectable but conducting sinful experiments in the shadows. The house's usual comfort now "plunged in darkness" perfectly reflects Jekyll's moral deterioration.
The chapter ends with Utterson's repeated plea: "If Jekyll will but let me"—showing his growing doubts about his friend's true nature.