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What suspense and tension is created in chapter 7, "Incident at the Window," of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis...

Suspense and tension are created in this very brief chapter as a result of Mr. Enfield and Mr. Utterson chancing to see Dr. Jekyll at his window as they go for their walk. The pair invites the doctor outside to walk with them, because he looks so ill and feels so low, but he replies that it would be "quite impossible" and that he does not "dare." Why on earth would a short walk be...

Suspense and tension are created in this very brief chapter as a result of Mr. Enfield and Mr. Utterson chancing to see Dr. Jekyll at his window as they go for their walk. The pair invites the doctor outside to walk with them, because he looks so ill and feels so low, but he replies that it would be "quite impossible" and that he does not "dare." Why on earth would a short walk be "impossible" or something that he must not "dare" to do?  Certainly this oddity creates some suspense.  


Enfield and Utterson offer to remain below and talk with Dr. Jekyll from there, as he claims he cannot invite them up. Dr. Jekyll is made happy by this suggestion. In the next moment, however, "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 immediately slams the window shut. It is clear, then, that something really awful is happening with Jekyll, something he cannot control. One moment, he is happy to converse; the next, he looks terrified. This is not normal, and it creates a good deal of suspense for the reader and tension as a result.

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