All English teachers are not created equal, but there are some common quirks that connect them all…Shmoopers included. We look at fiction as a metaphor for life; investigating the themes and the social significance of a given piece. We deconstruct characters and determine if they represent something wrong or right with the world.

Books provide us with a topic that can lead to a larger discussion. You know, the ones that require eating s'mores and cheese balls (or a s'mores cheese ball) until 2 in the morning. With Stevenson's novella it is equally important to look at the main character not only as a representative of the society, but as an individual struggling with a mental illness. It is easy to look at a piece of fiction and view the antagonist as the embodiment of Satan. It is harder to think of an evil fictional character as a real human being… especially in terms of mental illness. Characters in literature teach readers to be less judgmental of those with physical disabilities and to be more tolerant of folks from another race or ethnic background. With the mentally ill, for some reason, it is much trickier. Looking at Stevenson's novel through the eyes of the psychologist can help break the stigma that is attached to individuals struggling with mental illness. Certainly Mr. Hyde's actions cannot be condoned, but the content of the book acts as a gateway to a conversation about mental health issues.