Question

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

"I feel very strongly about putting questions; it partakes too much of the style of the day of judgment. You start a question, and it’s like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill; and away the stone goes, starting others; and presently some bland old bird (the last you would have thought of) is knocked on the head in his own back garden and the family have to change their name. No sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask.”

Which theme is introduced in this exposition?

Silence is its own reward.
Real peace is found in nature.
Curiosity leads to dark truths.
Danger lurks most often at home.

Answer 1

Curiosity leads to dark truths.

The speaker warns that asking questions sets off a chain reaction that uncovers unpleasant, scandalous outcomes—so he deliberately avoids inquiry to prevent discovering disturbing facts.