Dr. Jekyll explains that he was born into a wealthy family with a promising future. Despite his respectable life, he struggled with a hidden duality—an internal battle between his honorable side and darker impulses. Fascinated by the idea that every person has both good and evil within them, he looked for a way to separate these two aspects of his personality.
Through his scientific research, Dr. Jekyll developed a potion designed to isolate and transform his darker side into a separate identity. Upon consuming the potion, he transformed into Edward Hyde, a smaller, younger man who embodied pure evil. As Mr. Hyde, he could indulge in immoral activities without damaging Dr. Jekyll’s reputation.
At first, Dr. Jekyll enjoyed the freedom that came with being Mr. Hyde. However, over time, Mr. Hyde’s actions became increasingly violent and uncontrollable. The pleasure of this double life turned into a nightmare when Mr. Hyde murdered Sir Danvers Carew. Horrified by the crime, Dr. Jekyll vowed never to become Mr. Hyde again.
Despite his resolve, the transformations began occurring spontaneously, even without the potion. Dr. Jekyll found himself changing into Mr. Hyde during moments of weakness or when he fell asleep. Desperate for help, he reached out to his friend Dr. Lanyon. When Dr. Lanyon witnessed Mr. Hyde transform back into Dr. Jekyll, the shock proved too much, leading to Dr. Lanyon’s death.
Realizing that he could no longer control the transformations and that the original ingredient for his potion was impure and irreplaceable, Dr. Jekyll understood that he would soon become Mr. Hyde permanently. In his final moments, he wrote this confession to explain the tragic events and to reveal the true nature of his dual identity.
Dr. Jekyll ends his statement by expressing despair over his fate. He knows that once the potion runs out, Edward Hyde will take over completely. With the authorities searching for Mr. Hyde and no hope for a cure, Dr. Jekyll accepts that his end is near. He leaves the confession as an explanation to his friends, hoping they will understand the torment he faced.