Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case

           Iwasbornintheyear18——toalargefortune,endowedbesideswithexcellentparts,inclinedbynaturetoindustry,fondoftherespectofthewiseandgoodamongmyfellow-men,andthus,asmighthavebeensupposed,witheveryguaranteeofanhonourableanddistinguishedfuture. Andindeedtheworstofmyfaultswasacertainimpatientgaietyofdisposition,suchashasmadethehappinessofmany,butsuchasIfoundithardtoreconcilewithmyimperiousdesiretocarrymyheadhigh,andwearamorethancommonlygravecountenancebeforethepublic. HenceitcameaboutthatIconcealedmypleasures;andthatwhenIreachedyearsofreflection,andbegantolookroundmeandtakestockofmyprogressandpositionintheworld,Istoodalreadycommittedtoaprofoundduplicityoflife. ManyamanwouldhaveevenblazonedsuchirregularitiesasIwasguiltyof;butfromthehighviewsthatIhadsetbeforeme,Iregardedandhidthemwithanalmostmorbidsenseofshame. Itwasthusrathertheexactingnatureofmyaspirationsthananyparticulardegradationinmyfaults,thatmademewhatIwasand,withevenadeepertrenchthaninthemajorityofmen,severedinmethoseprovincesofgoodandillwhichdivideandcompoundman’sdualnature. Inthiscase,Iwasdriventoreflectdeeplyandinveteratelyonthathardlawoflife,whichliesattherootofreligionandisoneofthemostplentifulspringsofdistress.