illustration of a face with two separate halves, one good and one evil, located above the fumes of a potion

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Start Free Trial

Student Question

Summarize Mr. Enfield's story from "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".

Quick answer:

Mr. Enfield's story introduces Mr. Hyde in "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Enfield, a relative of Utterson, describes an encounter where he witnessed Mr. Hyde trampling a girl without remorse. Despite Hyde's indifference, his appearance evoked a strong sense of loathing and unease in Enfield. This incident highlights Hyde's disturbing nature and sets the stage for the novel's exploration of duality and morality.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Enfield enters the story mainly at the beginning. His role is to give an outsider's first impression of "the man" (Mr. Hyde). He is a Utterson's relative, and they walk regularly for exercise. On one walk Enfield encountered "the man" as he walked over a girl. The man wasn't that upset by being stopped over trampling the girl, but something in his appearance made Enfield sweat and feel loathing for the man.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial