Questions and Answers on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1. Dr. Jekyll tells us the story from Jekyll's perspective in the last chapter. Why is the story never narrated from Hyde's perspective?
Various reasons, first, Hyde is never a real character but a dark side of Dr. Jekyll, which means Mr. Hyde is just an personaiity but not a real existence in this novel. 2. Why did Stevenson decide to write from multiple points of view? (Enfield's narration in Chapter 1, third person limited narrative of Utterson's perspective in most chapters, third person limited narrative of the maid's perspective in Chapter 4, Lanyon's narration in Chapter 9, and Jekyll's narration in Chapter 10) It clarify the mystery throughout the novel, also by using different perspectives it delivers various events more intensively. At the last chapter Dr. Jekyll’s point of view was very effective to reveal the mystery by the mysterious man.
3. What is the effect of the two narratives (from both Lanyon and Jekyll) at the end instead of just one (from either Lanyon or Jekyll)? Does this explanation have anything to do with the dual nature of Jekyll/Hyde, or is it just to provide an eyewitness account? I think both played a part, by ending it with two narratives truly reveals two man’s thoughts and emotions.
4. The three male protagonists of this book -- Mr. Utterson, Dr. Lanyon, and Dr. Jekyll -- claim to be friends. How strong are the friendships? Are these men friends, or just acquaintances who get along with one another? (please cite some things from the book to support your answer) They are good friends no doubt, if there weren’t good friends why would Lanyon or Utterson care in the first place, also, reason why Lanyon was so shocked is because he was so close to Dr. Jekyll and due that reason his shock was so immense.
5. Why does Mr. Hyde remain diminutive throughout the novella? Mr. Hyde is just a small setting to construct the story progress and the most important part is Dr. Jekyll’s thoughts and his friends’ reactions to that.
Various reasons, first, Hyde is never a real character but a dark side of Dr. Jekyll, which means Mr. Hyde is just an personaiity but not a real existence in this novel. 2. Why did Stevenson decide to write from multiple points of view? (Enfield's narration in Chapter 1, third person limited narrative of Utterson's perspective in most chapters, third person limited narrative of the maid's perspective in Chapter 4, Lanyon's narration in Chapter 9, and Jekyll's narration in Chapter 10) It clarify the mystery throughout the novel, also by using different perspectives it delivers various events more intensively. At the last chapter Dr. Jekyll’s point of view was very effective to reveal the mystery by the mysterious man.
3. What is the effect of the two narratives (from both Lanyon and Jekyll) at the end instead of just one (from either Lanyon or Jekyll)? Does this explanation have anything to do with the dual nature of Jekyll/Hyde, or is it just to provide an eyewitness account? I think both played a part, by ending it with two narratives truly reveals two man’s thoughts and emotions.
4. The three male protagonists of this book -- Mr. Utterson, Dr. Lanyon, and Dr. Jekyll -- claim to be friends. How strong are the friendships? Are these men friends, or just acquaintances who get along with one another? (please cite some things from the book to support your answer) They are good friends no doubt, if there weren’t good friends why would Lanyon or Utterson care in the first place, also, reason why Lanyon was so shocked is because he was so close to Dr. Jekyll and due that reason his shock was so immense.
5. Why does Mr. Hyde remain diminutive throughout the novella? Mr. Hyde is just a small setting to construct the story progress and the most important part is Dr. Jekyll’s thoughts and his friends’ reactions to that.