High School

Read the excerpt from Chapter 4 of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

"At this moment, however, the rooms bore every mark of having been recently and hurriedly ransacked; clothes lay about the floor, with their pockets inside out; lock-fast drawers stood open; and on the hearth there lay a pile of grey ashes, as though many papers had been burned. From these embers, the inspector disinterred the butt end of a green cheque book, which had resisted the action of the fire; the other half of the stick was found behind the door; and as this clinched his suspicions, the officer declared himself delighted."

How does this excerpt develop the plot?

A. The condition of the room and its contents cause Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen to plan a trip to the bank in hopes of catching Mr. Hyde.

B. The condition of the room and its contents cause Mr. Utterson and Newcomen to start investigating someone other than Mr. Hyde.

C. The condition of the room and its contents cause Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen to consider Mr. Hyde as a murder suspect.

D. The condition of the room and its contents cause Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen to contact Dr. Jekyll to see if he can provide any answers.

Answer :

Final answer:

The excerpt develops the plot by portraying the chaotic state of Dr. Jekyll's room, causing Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen to view Mr. Hyde as a murder suspect. The evidence found, including a burnt cheque book, heightens their suspicions. This discovery pushes them to reconsider their next actions regarding Mr. Hyde's potential criminality.


Explanation:

Analysis of Character Actions in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

This excerpt from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde significantly develops the plot by illustrating the state of Dr. Jekyll's living space, implying a frantic situation and possibly dangerous activities. The condition of the room, with clothes scattered and a burnt cheque book, raises suspicion about Mr. Hyde's involvement in potential criminal acts. This creates a sense of urgency for Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen, who begin to see Mr. Hyde as a murder suspect. With the discovery of the cheque book, it connects the evidence directly to Mr. Hyde, indicating that he may have been involved in something illicit or even deadly.

Furthermore, the ransacked appearance of the room suggests that Mr. Hyde is hiding something or is on the run, which propels the characters to consider their next steps carefully. Their investigation becomes more focused and serious as they realize the implications of the findings.


Learn more about plot development here:

https://brainly.com/question/765953