Prompt 01
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
In The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson suggests that suppressing one’s darker impulses—rather than trying to eliminate evil—actually intensifies it. In a well-organized essay, either support, contest, or refine this claim by examining how Stevenson employs the dual nature of Jekyll and Hyde, the setting of Victorian London, and the novel's narrative structure to delve into the repercussions of repression and the instability of a divided self.
Requirements
- Craft a clear, debatable thesis that goes beyond merely summarizing the plot.
- Reference at least three specific passages or scenes from the novel as supporting evidence.
- Analyze how at least one of the following literary elements enhances your argument:
- Gothic atmosphere and setting
- Point of view and narrative framing (Utterson, Lanyon, Jekyll's confession)
- Symbolism (doors, mirrors, physical transformation)
- Present a counterargument and either refute or complicate it.
- Suggested length: 4–6 paragraphs (or as instructed by your teacher).
Guiding Questions to Develop Your Thesis
- Does Jekyll's experiment signify a failure in science, morality, or self-understanding—or perhaps all three?
- Is Hyde entirely evil, or does he reflect the pressures of Victorian society's expectations for respectability?
- What does the novel imply about the feasibility of truly separating "good" from "evil" within an individual?