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In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, curiosity drives the characters to seek knowledge. This curiosity is either suppressed or fulfilled in each character. Curiosity lacks any negative connotations; instead, characters who do not actively seek to unravel the Jekyll and Hyde mystery may be viewed as passive or weak. Finally, the characters’ curiosities are, to some degree, transferred over to the reader; we seek to solve the puzzle along with Mr. Utterson.
Questions About Curiosity
- What is the effect of having Mr. Enfield be so adamantly not curious?
- One could say that curiosity killed Dr. Lanyon. Is it possible that Mr. Utterson could have suffered the same fate?
- When Mr. Utterson suppresses his natural curiosity, what force is superseding his desire to satisfy his curiosity?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Although Mr. Utterson seeks to satiate his curiosity, he values his good honor and manners above his desire to solve the mystery.