Question

Read the excerpt from chapter 3 of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

"You know I never approved of it,” pursued Utterson, ruthlessly disregarding the fresh topic.

"My will? Yes, certainly, I know that,” said the doctor, a trifle sharply. "You have told me so.”

"Well, I tell you so again,” continued the lawyer. "I have been learning something of young Hyde.”

The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes. "I do not care to hear more,” said he. "This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop.”

"What I heard was abominable,” said Utterson.

"It can make no change. You do not understand my position,” returned the doctor, with a certain incoherency of manner. "I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange—a very strange one. It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking.”

The conflict in this passage develops the plot by

forcing Dr. Jekyll to fully explain his complicated business relationship with Mr. Hyde to Mr. Utterson.
convincing Mr. Utterson to try and help Mr. Hyde avoid punishment for the crimes he has committed.
prompting Dr. Jekyll to ask Mr. Utterson to promise that Mr. Hyde will receive what is left to him in the will.
creating an argument between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson that causes Dr. Jekyll to fire his lawyer.

Answer 1

Prompting Dr. Jekyll to ask Mr. Utterson to promise that Mr. Hyde will receive what is left to him in the will.

Step-by-step explanation:

Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" revolves around the story of a good doctor who had an evil alter ego. The story deals with themes of science, the complexity of life, loyalty, good vs. evil, etc.

I n the given excerpt, Dr. Jekyll and his lawyer Mr. Utterson are in conversation about Mr. Hyde. When Utterson pressed Jekyll about Hyde and how he did not trust that man, Dr. Jekyll insists that his relationship with Hyde is "very strange . . . and cannot be mended by talking." This conflict in their interest in Hyde helps develop the plot by prompting Jekyll to force Utterson to promise he (Utterson) will help Hyde when Jekyll is no more.

Thus, the correct answer is the third option.