Question

. . . for Mr. Hyde had numbered few familiars—even the master of the servant maid had only seen him twice; his family could nowhere be traced; he had never been photographed; and the few who could describe him differed widely, as common observers will. Only on one point were they agreed; and that was the haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders.

–The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,
Robert Louis Stevenson

What theme does this passage best support?

Mr. Hyde has an unusual appearance.
Appearances shape people’s opinions.
People are too concerned with their appearances.

Answer 1

Appearances shape people’s opinions.

Explanation: The passage shows that observers form a strong, shared impression of Hyde based on his outward look — a "haunting sense of unexpressed deformity" — even though other details differ. That emphasizes how appearance drives others’ judgments.