Research Questions - Group 5 - Dr. Jekyll from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

 

 

1. Even though Dr. Jekyll seems a respectable gentleman, you have heard the rumors and suspect that he might lead a double life. Were “double lives” a concern in the late Victorian period? What kind of activities might he be up to?

2. Dr. Jekyll is a doctor and scientist. What were some of the scientific advancements and concerns during the Victorian era?

3. Dr. Jekyll seems to be experiencing a crisis of identity. Is he alone in this or were other men experiencing an identity crisis and/or shift in the late Victorian period?

4. There are no women in Dr. Jekyll’s life. He seems to only be focused only on science rather than romance. Does this connect to a way of thinking that was popular at the time? Or might it also connect to the genre of the story that he is in?

5. Jekyll seems to be worried about his reputation as a “respectable” man. How important was reputation and “respectability”?

6. Jekyll claims that Mr. Utterson and those starting the rumors about him are merely suffering from ennui and the boredom of life. Is this a serious claim? Were people in the late Victorian period actually suffering from this?