Final answer:
Dr. Jekyll's will at the beginning and end of the chapter serves as foreshadowing, hinting at future events, creating suspense, and emphasizing the story's themes, such as the duality of human nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a chapter in a story begins and ends with the same element, such as Dr. Jekyll's will in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it often serves as a literary device known as foreshadowing. This technique is used to hint at future events or outcomes in the narrative, creating suspense and engaging the reader's curiosity about the significance of the will.
Additionally, the placement of Jekyll's will at both the start and end of a chapter may prompt readers to consider its implications on the plot and how it ties into the themes of the story. Authors make deliberate choices about how to divide their stories, whether to build suspense, shift viewpoints, or emphasize themes.
By focusing on elements like Dr. Jekyll's will, which initially may seem only tangentially related to the story's main events, readers might contemplate deeper themes of identity, morality, and the duality of human nature that are central to the novel. These elements, woven throughout the narrative, contribute to a richer understanding of the characters' motivations and the eventual unfolding of the story's climax and resolution.