This novel has taken an unexpected turn within the last couple chapters. Hyde has practically fallen off the face of the Earth, never to be seen again, and the trio of friends - Lanyon, Jekyll, and Utterson - have all become sick in some sort of way. Jekyll and Lanyon are physically ill, yet Lanyon is in much worse condition. Utterson however seems to have more of an emotional sickness. Haunting thoughts and questions possess his mind, and worry for his friend has eaten away at his nerves. The murder case involving Mr. Hyde has kept everyone alert and on the edge of their seat, yet the news has faded into oblivion at the same time. Now, Jekyll is wallowing in solitude, hardly even allowing his dear friend Utterson to visit him in his current state. The door has been shut in Utterson's face countless times, and he has come to the point of almost hoping to be denied entrance. Lanyon, on the other hand, became even sicker and died in his sleep; making the trio of friends nothing more than a pair of bitter men, growing apart more and more each day. There is no doubt that Utterson truly cares for Dr. Jekyll, but one's patience and energy can only make it for so long.
In addition to the tension between the friends, Utterson inherited an envelope from Lanyon during the poor man's funeral. Within the envelope was another enclosure, sealed and marked as "not to be opened until the death or diappearance of Dr. Henry Jekyll." Utterson was curious, but would feel unloyal if he were to open it before stated, so he tucked it into a corner in his safe. More questions aroused to me from the text after reading these passages. Why is Jekyll being so sullen and withdrawn? What do all the letters given to Utterson mean? What did Utterson mean by "Henry Jekyll forge for a murderer!" on the last page of chapter 5? And when will we see Hyde again? These questions will hopefully soon be answered, but for now I am still trying to understand the general vast mysteries of this book.
