Although Utterson witnesses a string of shocking events, Utterson himself is a largely unexciting character and is clearly not a man of strong passions or sensibilities. Indeed, Stevenson intends for him to come across in this way: from the first page of the novel, the text notes that Utterson has a face that is “never lighted by a smile,” that he speaks very little, and that he seems “lean, long, dusty, [and] dreary.” Yet, somehow, he is also “lovable,” and dull and proper though he may be, he has many friends. His lovability may stem from the only interesting quality that Stevenson gives him—namely, his willingness to remain friends with someone whose reputation has suffered. This loyalty leads him to plumb the mystery that surrounds Jekyll.
Utterson represents the perfect Victorian gentleman. He consistently seeks to preserve order and decorum, does not gossip, and guards his friends’ reputations as though they were his own. Even when he suspects his friend Jekyll of criminal activities such as blackmail or the sheltering of a murderer, he prefers to sweep what he has learned—or what he thinks he has learned—under the rug rather than bring ruin upon his good friend.
Utterson’s status as the epitome of Victorian norms also stems from his devotion to reason and common sense. He investigates what becomes a supernatural sequence of events but never allows himself to even entertain the notion that something uncanny may be going on. He considers that misdeeds may be occurring but not that the mystical or metaphysical might be afoot. Thus, even at the end, when he is summoned by Poole to Jekyll’s home and all the servants are gathered frightened in the hallway, Utterson continues to look for an explanation that preserves reason. He desperately searches for excuses not to take any drastic steps to interfere with Jekyll’s life. In Utterson’s devotion to both decorum and reason, Stevenson depicts Victorian society’s general attempt to maintain the authority of civilization over and against humanity’s darker side. Stevenson suggests that just as Utterson prefers the suppression or avoidance of revelations to the scandal or chaos that the truth might unleash, so too does Victorian society prefer to repress and deny the existence of an uncivilized or savage element of humanity, no matter how intrinsic that element may be.
Yet, even as Utterson adheres rigidly to order and rationality, he does not fail to notice the uncanny quality of the events he investigates. Indeed, because we see the novel through Utterson’s eyes, Stevenson cannot allow Utterson to be toounimaginative—otherwise the novel’s eerie mood would suffer. Correspondingly, Stevenson attributes nightmares to Utterson and grants him ominous premonitions as he moves through the city at night—neither of which seem to suit the lawyer’s normally reasonable personality, which is rarely given to flights of fancy. Perhaps, the novel suggests, the chilling presence of Hyde in London is strong enough to penetrate even the rigidly rational shell that surrounds Utterson, planting a seed of supernatural dread.
Qualities of Mr Utterson:
Mr Utterson’s has a major role in the novel as he functions as the "eyes" of "conscience" through which we, the readers, evaluate most of the novel. Mr Utterson clarifies, step by step, with great patience and acumen, the strange events concerning his good friend Jekyll and his mysterious connection with Hyde. He plays a big part in the story as he leads the reader through the story although he is not a narrator. In the opening of the story he is known as a famous lawyer. In the opening paragraph of the story Mr Utterson is described as “a man of rugged countenance, that was never lightened by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backwards in sentiment; lean, long dusty, dreary, and yet somehow loveable”.
Stevenson wanted to make Mr. Gabriel John Utterson like a Victorian Gentleman as much as he could. Utterson does not gossip or spread lies; all he wants to do is maintain order and etiquette. Also, he is very protective over his friends’ reputations, and treats them with respect which is a great quality. For instance, when he suspects Dr. Jekyll of unlawful behavior such as blackmail or giving Mr. Hyde, a suspected murderer, a place to stay, he chooses to look past it instead of questioning it and eventually destroying his reputation.
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Utterson represents the perfect Victorian gentleman. He consistently seeks to preserve order and decorum, does not gossip, and guards his friends’ reputations as though they were his own. Even when he suspects his friend Jekyll of criminal activities such as blackmail or the sheltering of a murderer, he prefers to sweep what he has learned—or what he thinks he has learned—under the rug rather than bring ruin upon his good friend.
Utterson’s status as the epitome of Victorian norms also stems from his devotion to reason and common sense. He investigates what becomes a supernatural sequence of events but never allows himself to even entertain the notion that something uncanny may be going on. He considers that misdeeds may be occurring but not that the mystical or metaphysical might be afoot. Thus, even at the end, when he is summoned by Poole to Jekyll’s home and all the servants are gathered frightened in the hallway, Utterson continues to look for an explanation that preserves reason. He desperately searches for excuses not to take any drastic steps to interfere with Jekyll’s life. In Utterson’s devotion to both decorum and reason, Stevenson depicts Victorian society’s general attempt to maintain the authority of civilization over and against humanity’s darker side. Stevenson suggests that just as Utterson prefers the suppression or avoidance of revelations to the scandal or chaos that the truth might unleash, so too does Victorian society prefer to repress and deny the existence of an uncivilized or savage element of humanity, no matter how intrinsic that element may be.
Yet, even as Utterson adheres rigidly to order and rationality, he does not fail to notice the uncanny quality of the events he investigates. Indeed, because we see the novel through Utterson’s eyes, Stevenson cannot allow Utterson to be toounimaginative—otherwise the novel’s eerie mood would suffer. Correspondingly, Stevenson attributes nightmares to Utterson and grants him ominous premonitions as he moves through the city at night—neither of which seem to suit the lawyer’s normally reasonable personality, which is rarely given to flights of fancy. Perhaps, the novel suggests, the chilling presence of Hyde in London is strong enough to penetrate even the rigidly rational shell that surrounds Utterson, planting a seed of supernatural dread.
Qualities of Mr Utterson:
- Mr Utterson is a very Victorian gentleman, naturally unexciting with no strong passions or sensibilities.
- He is very dull and proper but is yet described as being fairly “loveable”
- He prefers to sweep gossip and scandal under the rug rather than taking a stand on the matter, especially when they stem from his own friends such as in the case of Jekyll.
- He prefers to remain looking for a explanation to preserve reason rather than to even consider darker forces at play.
Mr Utterson’s has a major role in the novel as he functions as the "eyes" of "conscience" through which we, the readers, evaluate most of the novel. Mr Utterson clarifies, step by step, with great patience and acumen, the strange events concerning his good friend Jekyll and his mysterious connection with Hyde. He plays a big part in the story as he leads the reader through the story although he is not a narrator. In the opening of the story he is known as a famous lawyer. In the opening paragraph of the story Mr Utterson is described as “a man of rugged countenance, that was never lightened by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backwards in sentiment; lean, long dusty, dreary, and yet somehow loveable”.
Stevenson wanted to make Mr. Gabriel John Utterson like a Victorian Gentleman as much as he could. Utterson does not gossip or spread lies; all he wants to do is maintain order and etiquette. Also, he is very protective over his friends’ reputations, and treats them with respect which is a great quality. For instance, when he suspects Dr. Jekyll of unlawful behavior such as blackmail or giving Mr. Hyde, a suspected murderer, a place to stay, he chooses to look past it instead of questioning it and eventually destroying his reputation.
*Contents used from other websites
work solely by me
Mr. Utterson is characterized as a Victorian gentlemen, but he is also one who does not fully represent the Victorian Era, and has some stark contrasts to the epitome of those Victorian Gentlemen. Mr. Utterson’s importance to the story is characterized by his character, the way others portray him through indirect characterization, and direct characterization by the author.
Mr. Utterson is a vital character to the novel, and he is the eye we see the book from. His importance in the novel as a whole, therefore, is similar to those of Hyde or Jekyll, as we see the novel from his point of view. He is extremely peculiar in detail, and with great acumen, takes us through the many strange events concerning Jekyll. However, this fact also means that Utterson’s bias against certain subject matters, such as those concerning Jekyll, affects us. Because Stevenson sets him up as an honest, trustworthy, objective narrator who lives by strict moral codes, such as the other Victorian gentlemen, we are led to believe in all he says, and we do not doubt his explanation or his view of an event, rather taking it as a fair, unbiased judgment, which we find is false in the end of the story when Dr. Jekyll turns out to be Mr. Hyde, which the readers may have taken as a possibility, and possibly not, due to our confinement in Utterson’s imagination. Utterson, like much of the other Victorian gentlemen, was unimaginative and narrowed in his ability to think.
Utterson is a boring man, tall, lean and dreary, "yet somehow lovable." He loves to drink wine, and it is only then that he shows slight emotions; however, he would often restrict his "want" for wine, and instead opt for gin. He loves to watch plays, but in 20 years, he has never been to one. Nonetheless, he is generous to others, and willing to help others. Especially seen by "God save us - it is Mr. Utterson" in the later stages of the book, it is clear that Mr. Utterson had earned himself a great reverence for himself.
Because of his personality, he does not have any other friends apart from some, including Dr. Jekyll or Dr. Lanyon.
When he sees, as a lawyer, the will written by Dr. Jekyll, he starts to worry. The reason is that the will has conditions that seem forced, and unreal, and he wonders who Mr. Hyde is. When Enfield drops him the bomb of the story by the door, Utterson stays alert, that Hyde will soon murder the doctor - and he warns the doctor.
When the murder of Sir Carew happened, he had a letter to send to Utterson, and he helps them find Hyde's house. Once again, he alerts Jekyll - and Jekyll shows him a false letter to hopefully relieve Utterson of his interest in Hyde. Nonetheless, Guest is able to figure out that the two handwritings are the same, and Utterson worries and suspects Hyde furthermore.
He relieves when Dr. Jekyll began to become sociable once more, but he suddenly isolates himself once more, and Dr. Lanyon too dies, with curious remarks, that he does not wish to talk to Dr. Jekyll anymore, to which Dr. Jekyll agrees. When he finally meets Jekyll, and tries to talk to him, Jekyll shuts the door in sudden fear. Utterson also becomes scared and what happened - one of the only times that he truly showed emotions.
On the last night, he goes to Jekyll's house with Poole's visit, and breaks into the door - only to find that Hyde has committed suicide. He continues to search for Jekyll's corpse, which he is unable to find, and he does not realize, probably, until after he reads the confessions that the two are the same being, which highlights his unimaginative character.
Mr. Utterson is a vital character to the novel, and he is the eye we see the book from. His importance in the novel as a whole, therefore, is similar to those of Hyde or Jekyll, as we see the novel from his point of view. He is extremely peculiar in detail, and with great acumen, takes us through the many strange events concerning Jekyll. However, this fact also means that Utterson’s bias against certain subject matters, such as those concerning Jekyll, affects us. Because Stevenson sets him up as an honest, trustworthy, objective narrator who lives by strict moral codes, such as the other Victorian gentlemen, we are led to believe in all he says, and we do not doubt his explanation or his view of an event, rather taking it as a fair, unbiased judgment, which we find is false in the end of the story when Dr. Jekyll turns out to be Mr. Hyde, which the readers may have taken as a possibility, and possibly not, due to our confinement in Utterson’s imagination. Utterson, like much of the other Victorian gentlemen, was unimaginative and narrowed in his ability to think.
Utterson is a boring man, tall, lean and dreary, "yet somehow lovable." He loves to drink wine, and it is only then that he shows slight emotions; however, he would often restrict his "want" for wine, and instead opt for gin. He loves to watch plays, but in 20 years, he has never been to one. Nonetheless, he is generous to others, and willing to help others. Especially seen by "God save us - it is Mr. Utterson" in the later stages of the book, it is clear that Mr. Utterson had earned himself a great reverence for himself.
Because of his personality, he does not have any other friends apart from some, including Dr. Jekyll or Dr. Lanyon.
When he sees, as a lawyer, the will written by Dr. Jekyll, he starts to worry. The reason is that the will has conditions that seem forced, and unreal, and he wonders who Mr. Hyde is. When Enfield drops him the bomb of the story by the door, Utterson stays alert, that Hyde will soon murder the doctor - and he warns the doctor.
When the murder of Sir Carew happened, he had a letter to send to Utterson, and he helps them find Hyde's house. Once again, he alerts Jekyll - and Jekyll shows him a false letter to hopefully relieve Utterson of his interest in Hyde. Nonetheless, Guest is able to figure out that the two handwritings are the same, and Utterson worries and suspects Hyde furthermore.
He relieves when Dr. Jekyll began to become sociable once more, but he suddenly isolates himself once more, and Dr. Lanyon too dies, with curious remarks, that he does not wish to talk to Dr. Jekyll anymore, to which Dr. Jekyll agrees. When he finally meets Jekyll, and tries to talk to him, Jekyll shuts the door in sudden fear. Utterson also becomes scared and what happened - one of the only times that he truly showed emotions.
On the last night, he goes to Jekyll's house with Poole's visit, and breaks into the door - only to find that Hyde has committed suicide. He continues to search for Jekyll's corpse, which he is unable to find, and he does not realize, probably, until after he reads the confessions that the two are the same being, which highlights his unimaginative character.