The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

# Discussion Questions: *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* by Robert Louis Stevenson Consider these questions and be ready to share your insights with the class: 1. **Duality of Human Nature** — Dr. Jekyll thinks he can separate the "good" and "evil" aspects of his personality. Do you believe human nature is really split this way? What does the novel imply about the effects of trying to suppress one part of ourselves? 2. **Identity and Transformation** — As Jekyll loses grip on his transformations into Hyde, what does this indicate about the link between identity, free will, and desire? When does Jekyll cease to be the one "in control"? 3. **Victorian Society and Repression** — Set in Victorian London, known for its strict moral codes and public respectability, how does this backdrop influence Jekyll's motivations? Would his experiment carry the same significance in a different social environment? 4. **Sympathy and Moral Judgment** — Does the novel prompt us to feel sympathy for Jekyll, judge him harshly, or both? How does Stevenson use narrative techniques (Utterson's viewpoint, letters, confessions) to influence our moral perspective of the characters? 5. **Hyde as the "Other"** — Hyde is often depicted in animalistic, primitive, and unsettling ways that leave his observers at a loss for words. What might Hyde symbolize beyond just Jekyll's evil side — in terms of society, psychology, or symbolism? 6. **Secrecy and Silence** — Many characters in the novel (Utterson, Enfield, Lanyon) seem to adhere to an unspoken code of silence and discretion. How does secrecy act as both a social norm and a narrative tool? What are the consequences of this silence?

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## Discussion Questions: *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* by Robert Louis Stevenson Consider the following questions carefully and be ready to back up your responses with evidence from the text: 1. **Duality of Human Nature:** Dr. Jekyll claims that "man is not truly one, but truly two." In what ways does the novel delve into the concept that every individual holds both good and evil within themselves? Do you think Stevenson portrays this duality as something exclusive to Jekyll, or as a shared trait of all humans? 2. **Repression and Victorian Society:** Jekyll's experiment is partly fueled by his wish to separate his respectable persona from his hidden impulses. What does the novel imply about the risks of suppressing one's "darker" desires? How might the societal expectations of the Victorian era have played a role in Jekyll's downfall? 3. **Sympathy and Moral Judgment:** As the story unfolds, do you find yourself feeling sympathy for Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, or perhaps both? What techniques does Stevenson use—through narrative structure, language, or characterization—to influence your moral response to each character? 4. **Loss of Control:** Jekyll starts off believing he can manage his transformations, but eventually, Hyde begins to dominate. What does this loss of control represent? Can you think of any contemporary examples—personal, social, or political—where something intended to serve a purpose ends up overpowering its creator? 5. **Secrecy and Silence:** A lot of the novel's tension arises from what characters choose not to say or investigate. Why do Utterson and others take so long to confront the truth about Jekyll and Hyde? What does this reveal about the role of willful ignorance in allowing harm to occur?

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