Quotation: “And [Utterson]…brooded awhile on his own past, groping in all the corners of memory, lest by chance some Jack-in-the-Box of an old iniquity should leap to light there. His past was fairly blameless; few men could read the rolls of their life with less apprehension; yet he was humbled to the dust by the many ill things he had done, and raised up again into a sober and fearful gratitude by the many that he had come so near to doing, yet avoided” (p.).

Comment: Everyone, including me, can relate to this quotation.  We’ve all had our regrets and close calls.  And connecting this to an earlier part of the book, this past may be what inspired Utterson to care so much for sinners, as mentioned when he is first introduced.  Yet it is fascinating that even such a forgiving person as he is instantly repulsed, like everyone else, at the sight of Mr. Hyde.  This shows the fear of Hyde comes from the unconscious mind, prompting a fight-or-flight instinct, like every other witness to Mr. Hyde experienced in their encounters with him.  I too have had gut instincts about instances that may have saved me, as when a certain person greeted me uncomfortably when I asked how they were, and I got the sense I shouldn’t bother with them anymore, which proved a good choice.  But like Mr. Utterson, I try to be patient with people and find it difficult to hate for the most part.

Question: Did the author have some major regrets that provided inspiration to this book, and if so, what were they? Or did he know people that appeared to experience sudden personality and temperament shifts?