The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Final Essay
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is a mystery thriller but also a cautionary tale. "The novella warns its readers against the dangers to one’s soul of the 'sins' or 'iniquities' committed both by Dr. Jekyll as an overreaching scientist and by his amoral double, Hyde. Even though Jekyll never really endorses responsibility for Hyde’s crimes, the religious vocabulary of sin, damnation and penitence (remorse), along with biblical images12, invade the novella from the moment Dr. Jekyll loses control of his worse self and confronts retribution (penalty) and punishment" (http://predoc.org/docs/index-8295.html).
Jekyll's actions are selfish; they show moral cowardice, weakness, and hypocrisy. What moral lesson or lessons is Stevenson relating through his novel?
Response Format
Using MLA format, write a multi-paragraph response to the prompt. Choose a creative title for your essay. Each paragraph should have a minimum of two pieces of textual evidence in the form of quotes. For each concrete detail, you must have an introductory sentence with background and context, and a minimum of two sentences of commentary/analysis. This analysis should NOT summarize the quote, paraphrase the quote, or deviate from the topic of the paragraph. Commentary and analysis must analyze the quote in relation to the topic sentence. Analysis, at its heart, seeks to answer how and why.
Notes: Use title and full name of author; give a brief overview of the book before you add your thesis statement with a preview of your paper. Write about the book in present tense. Remember the corrections you made on your Julius Caesar essays - be sure to incorporate them into this essay. Carefully proofread your paper.
Schedule:
· Monday, April 21, 2014 - Begin first draft in class.
· Friday, April 25, 2014 - Typed, double-spaced draft due for peer edit in class.
· Monday, April 28th, 2014 - Final Draft due to turnitin.com by 6:00 a.m., hard copy with peer edits and rough draft due at the beginning of class.