Instead, Jekyll's confession is written in the form of a will and a letter to Utterson. It's in these documents that he reveals details about his youth and the origins of his dark side.
Here's what Jekyll says about his youth:
* He admits to having a "double" nature: He acknowledges that he had "a strong sense of the duality of man" from a young age, meaning he was aware of his inherent goodness and his darker impulses.
* He hints at early experimentation: Jekyll states that he "was always much inclined to solitary study" and that "from my boyhood I was much given to daydreams." This suggests he might have explored his darker side through these activities.
* He emphasizes a desire for pleasure: He writes about feeling "the promptings of my nature" and the "pleasures of my senses" pulling him towards indulgence. This hints at a yearning for pleasure that might have led him down a path of self-destruction.
However, Jekyll doesn't give specific details about his youth beyond these general admissions. The focus of his confession is on his transformation into Hyde, and the consequences of his actions.
It's left to the reader to interpret these hints and imagine the specific events that might have shaped Jekyll's dual nature and led him to his ultimate downfall.