Chapter 8- The Last Night

Why does Poole believe that his master has been murdered?

• He was locked in a room for days, so he thought he was killed.

What is the evidence that a troubled person had lived in the room where Hyde was found dead?

• The servants say that "There had been crying night and day for some sort of medicine." The sight of this secluded person.. "He was looking on the body of a self destroyer.

Chapter 7- Incident at the Window

Why does Utterson mutter "God forgive us" after the incident at the window?

• The most probable reason for this happening was that his friends Jekyll replied in a low manner and he does not fully reveal the reason why, which seems dreary to Utterson. Utterson tried really hard to urge his friend to be courageous.

Chapter 6- Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon

What happens to Dr. Lanyon? Is there any suggestion about what has caused his illness?

• Utterson visits Dr. Lanyon and mentions that he looks ill. Lanyon tells him that he is a doomed man. He claimed to of had a shock and later died in his bed. Hyde allowed Lanyon to witness his change back into Jekyll. Jekyll then confessed his sings to Lanyon. Since Lanyon is such a Godly man, this literally shocked him.

Chapter 5- Incident of the Letter

Dr. Jekyll is a changed man when Utterson greets him in this chapter compared to the last time Utterson saw him. What accounts for this change?

• Once Mr. Hyde disappears, Jekyll feels free. He is much more social and he feels as though a weight has been lifted.

What lesson do you think Jekyll has learned?

• I think the lesson Dr. Jekyll has learned is that the evils of man kind can be found everywhere.

Chapter 4- The Carew Murder Case

What is revealed about the levels of Victorian society in the first page of this chapter?

• The maid described in the first page of chapter four hint at the levels of stratification between social classes based on both wealth and gender that were prevalent in that society.

How is Hyde described as he kills Sir Danvers Carew? How does this image fit with the other physical descriptions Stevenson has given of Hyde?

• Mr. Hyde was portrayed as a monster when he "violently" killed Sir Danvers Carew. Throughout the book, Hyde's physical  appearance is highly scrutinized and described as being hideous, vulgar, and offensive. Similar to how the death of Sir Danvers Carew's murder was described.

As Utterson takes the police officer to arrest Hyde, Stevenson gives a vivid description of "the dismal quarter of Soho" where Hyde lives. What is the effect of this description on our mood? What is the effect of this description on our understanding of Hyde?

• Through his word choice, he adds connotation to derive a very grim and bleak living style. This helps the reader to understand that Hyde is not the sort of man that is clean or in any way, very respectable.

Why do you think that Utterson feels "a terror of the law and the law's officers?"

• Mr. Utterson doesn't feel a terror toward the law and officers. It is Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll's evil second personality.

Is there any significance in the fact that although Hyde's specific facial features cannot be recognize everyone remembers the sense of deformity he conveyed?

• Yes, this is a major component to the progressing cruelness of Hyde's character, although his facial features are nearly invisible, Stevenson foreshadows Hyde's murder by having other characters see his other deformity- the deformity of his morals and soul.

Chapter 3- Dr. Jekyll was quite at ease

How does Jekyll describe Lanyon? What does this suggest about Jekyll's feelings about his own abilities?

• Dr. Jekyll describes Lanyon as a "high bound pedant, ignorant, blatant pedant." This suggests that Dr. Jekyll feels his abilities as a scientist are highly commendable and beyond reproach. His theories are true and strongly disagrees with Lanyon.

What does Jekyll ask of Utterson at the end of the chapter? Why does Utterson have strong misgivings about this request?

• Jekyll asks Utterson to promise that he will give Hyde, as beneficiary,all of Jekyll's estate. "I only ask for justice...when I am no longer there." Heaving a sigh, Utterson agrees: "I promise." Poole tells Utterson that Hyde has a key to the laboratory and that all the servants have orders to obey Hyde. The lawyer heads home, worrying about his friend. He assumes Hyde is black mailing Jekyll perhaps for some wrong doings that Jekyll committed in his youth.

Chapter 2- Search for Mr. Hyde

Describe the reason that Dr. Lanyon became estranged from Dr. Jekyll. What does this indicate about Lanyon's character?

• Dr. Lanyon became estranged from Dr. Jekyll because of a professional matter. He saw that putrid piece of anger and displacement in his character. Lanyon was more of a believer in science and Jekyll was starting to believe in unrealistic things. This indicates that Lanyon and Jekyll hold a tie between each other. That in itself is an indicator that Lanyon is a rather sketchy guy.

Why is Utterson so obsessed with images from Enfield's story about Hyde that he cannot sleep?

• Utterson is worried about his friend Dr. Jekyll since he knows Dr. Jekyll has willed everything to Hyde and he sees what an awful person Hyde is.

Once Utterson confronts Hyde, how does he feel toward him? What reasons does Utterson give for his feelings about Hyde?

• Utterson thinks that Hyde isn't a good person. He also claimed that he doesn't seem to be 100% human. Stevenson says those things about him because Hyde is a man so cruel, deformed,and murderous. Evidence is when he says "If I ever read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend."

In Utterson's response to Hyde, what does Stevenson tell us about Hyde?

• Stevenson tells us that Hyde is a skeptical and not a trusting person. He is probably like this because of former life experiences he has endured.The fact that Hyde pretends to be a man named Dr.Jekyll proves that there is much to find out about him and not to trust him.

Why doesn't Stevenson ever tell us what Hyde's face looks like?

• Stevenson doesn't tell us what Hyde' face looks like because it exaggerates how deformed and strange he looks, but it also allows us as readers to visualize in our own way what a seemingly mad man would look like.

Describe the appearance of the street and house in which Dr. Jekyll lives. What can we infer about Dr. Jekyll from this setting?

• Dr. Jekyll's house appears to be nice and ordinary on the outside whilst on the inside where his laboratory is, is a horrible building.You couldn't tell they were the same building because of the night and day setting.We can infer that Dr. Jekyll is somewhat of a sketchy man and we have so much more to find out about him throughout the rest of the novel

Utterson's speculation on Jekyll's connection to Hyde makes him reflect on his own vices and failings. What could Stevenson be implying about human nature in Utterson's reflection?

• Stevenson could be implying in Utterson's reflection about human nature that as humans we all make mistakes and have bad things that we have done even if we live a pretty good life.

Chapter 1- Story of the Door

What is Mr. Utterson's relationship to Mr. Enfield?

• Mr. Utteron and Mr. Enfield are distantly related to each other. They are friends who enjoy each other's company

How are the two men alike, different?

• Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield are alike in the sense that they are both reserved, formal, and scornful of gossip. They are ifferent in the sense that Mr. Utterson is well respected and then Enfield is much more wild.

Compare and contrast the description of the building and door used by Mr. Hyde and Enfield's description of him.

• Enfield described the place as well lit, very nice, but very empty.

How does Stevenson seem to be using setting to convey a sense of the man?

• Although this place was a very nice looking building for the most part, it is ugly at the samw time in the sense of loneliness.

What is the story of Cain and Abel?

• After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, they gave birth to their oldest sons, Cain and Abel. God asked Cain and Abel to sacrafice something to him Abel was very thoughtful in what he would sacrifice for God and decided to give up one of his lambs. Cain only gave up fruit and grain. Cain was jealous of Abel and killed him because of it. God punished Cain with a curse of wandering for eternity.

What does it mean that Mr Utterson says he inclines to Cain's heresy in his dealings with others? Explain why you agree of disagree with this way of dealing with your acquaintances. Do you feel you would want to ignore or confront them with their failing or foolishness so they would imrove their lives?

• I agree with Mr. Utterson's decision because sometimes, it is better to just mind your own business and to walk away. I personally would confront the person about their failings and foolishness so that they know that they need to stop and take things more seriously.

Although both Utterson and Enfield protest that they prefer to mind their own business, both men actively seek to help others. Describe Enfield's reaction to Hyde's colliion with the little girl. Do you think a citizen today would respond similarly to a wrong doer? Why or why not?

• Enfield confronted Hyde. He gave Enfield a lookthat made him break out into a sweat. I think people today would react similarly, except they would probably be more agressive towards the man.

Stevenson as an author

'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The year 1886 saw the publication of what would be another enduring work, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which was an immediate success and helped cement Stenvenson's reputation. The work is decidedly of the "adult" classification,as it presents a jarring and horrific exploration of various conflicting traits lurking within a single person. The book went on to international acclaim, inspring countless stage productions and more than 100 motion pictures.



"Grips the reader"- UPI and The Miami Herald

While reading 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I will be analyzing each chapter through questions that must be answered to gain a full understanding of Stevenson's novel. I would appreciate the input of my readers as I answer these questions, to see if my understanding of what I read is correct. Feel free to critique my answers as I proceed, because I would like the oppurtunity to completely understand this novel.