# Incident at the Window explained — The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

> Chapter companion for The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

During a Sunday walk, Utterson and Enfield pass by the bystreet door and discuss Hyde's disappearance. They see Dr. Jekyll at his window, looking despondent. Jekyll declines their invitation to join them, claiming he cannot. Suddenly, a look of abject terror replaces his smile, and he slams the window shut, leaving Utterson and Enfield horrified.

## Themes in this chapter

### Appearance vs. Reality

Jekyll's initial calm and friendly demeanor at the window is abruptly shattered by a look of abject terror, revealing the hidden turmoil beneath his composed exterior.

### Repression and Secrecy

Jekyll's refusal to leave his home and his sudden panic suggest he is hiding a dark secret, and the window serves as a barrier between his inner world and the outside.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Utterson

Utterson initiates the walk and expresses unease about Jekyll, suggesting they check on him. He witnesses Jekyll's sudden terror and is deeply shaken.

### Mr. Richard Enfield

Enfield accompanies Utterson, recalls the earlier story of Hyde, and shares Utterson's horror at Jekyll's transformation at the window.

### Dr. Henry Jekyll

Jekyll appears at the window, looking like a disconsolate prisoner. He admits feeling very low and refuses to go out, then suddenly shows extreme terror before shutting the window.

## Key lines

> I am very low, Utterson, very low. It will not last long, thank God.

Jekyll tells Utterson he feels deeply depressed and implies his suffering will soon end, possibly through death.

_Jekyll's words foreshadow his impending doom and his resignation to his fate._

> But the words were hardly uttered, before the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below.

Jekyll's friendly smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of pure horror that terrified Utterson and Enfield.

_This sudden shift highlights Jekyll's internal struggle and the presence of Hyde or some other threat._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_strange_case_of_dr_jekyll_and_mr_hyde_se/chapters/incident-at-the-window
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_strange_case_of_dr_jekyll_and_mr_hyde_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_strange_case_of_dr_jekyll_and_mr_hyde_se/chapters