Table of Contents
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Analysis of Utterson’s character
In summary
Sources
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Stevenson uses Utterson as Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde’s narrator, voice, and investigator for the novella. This allows the reader to ‘discover’ the story in a dramatic way. Utterson serves as a contrast to Jekyll, who uses a supernatural voice and experiments that are purely speculative. Utterson may also be understood as a representational of the Victorian gentleman masquerading as a secretive, impenetrable Victorian gentleman. This essay answers the question, “How is Utterson represented in Jekyll and Hyde?”
Analyse of Utterson characters Utterson responds to Hyde’s story with a simple “tut tut”, which is an expression of his disgust, but not emotion. This is typical Victorian gentleman behavior and shows that Utterson, despite being careful not to interfere with other people’s affairs, is not willing to inquire into the affairs of others. Utterson’s statements in this novella are contradictory. He says, “I incline toward Cain’s heresy I let mine go to the devil’s way.” This is Utterson declaring that he will never interfere in the affairs or wrongdoings of his “brother”. We soon discover that this is false, as Utterson becomes involved in Hyde’s story with the girl being trampled. Utterson continues to be obsessed with the truth about Jekyll throughout the book. Jekyll here represents Cain, Utterson’s ‘brother’, and condemns him to hell for his wrongdoings. Utterson’s immediate contradiction refers to the book’s theme of reputation. Victorian society was obsessed in their public image and would conceal dark parts of their lives. Utterson presents a passive character, but he is actually an obsessive, investigatory character. This is a great example of the hypocritical nature Victorian society. Utterson displays the terrifying story’s effects on ordinary people by having two opposite characters. Utterson has dreams and nightmares about Hyde, and is haunted constantly by his ghost. This reinforces Hyde’s reputation as a terrifying and repulsive character. Utterson describes himself as having ‘tossed back and forth’ while dreaming, which is indicative of his fear of Hyde. This encourages readers to feel fear. Utterson is described as having ‘tossed to and fro’ as he dreamt, which shows his fear for Hyde and thus man’s duality. Utterson’s description of himself as a lover of the sensible, showing how he’s a sensible character, makes it easy to trust his opinions, and allow the reader to copy them. Utterson loves order, which contrasts with Jekyll’s chaos, who disrupts nature’s order. Stevenson is trying to show the reader that good and bad cannot be separated. Utterson, the mix of good, and Jekyll, is what restores balance by end of novel. Jekyll is actually the cause of the disruption. Utterson can only solve the problem once he has found the truth. Utterson can also be used as a narration so that the reader uncovers the plot in an exciting and mysterious manner. Utterson collects information through different characters and media, compiling it into a cohesive story that Stevenson can use.
Utterson also uses Utterson to point out the duality of all people and societies, especially Victorian society. Stevenson gives many clues to Utterson’s darker side, even though he presents himself as trustworthy, trustworthy and generally pleasant. Stevenson describes Utterson on the first page as “long, dusty and dreary” and hints at his darker side. Stevenson’s dual nature demonstrates to the reader that even men of high standing can be flawed and that there is always another side. It must not be separated from you. This is what Jekyll did. Stevenson’s comment about Utterson’s dubious side also refers to society in general. Stevenson remarks that society in general has an evil and corrupt nature, but people hide from it. He is demonstrating the hypocrisy of society by Utterson’s and other characters’ horror at Jekyll becoming Hyde despite their dark sides. This could be seen as Stevenson’s terror at man’s capabilities and a demonstration about our reactions when faced with the grim reality of our human nature. Utterson is the Victorian gentleman archetype, a man who fears scandal. Utterson values his reputation above all others and is plagued with the ‘terror law’ which again points to a corrupted and secretive side. He is afraid to reveal what he learned, in order not to be seen as scandalous.
ConclusionIt is interesting to note that his name could be a pun on ‘Utters’. This supports the idea that Jekyll will not tell anyone. It isn’t clear why he does this. One reason could be his obsession with fame. Another reason could be his realization that he and anyone else could have been exactly in Jekylls shoes. Utterson’s silence is not a reason for Utterson to be used. He allows the reader to see Jekyll’s story through an external, ambiguous perspective. Utterson, however, is used to remind the reader that Jekyll is not isolated from society.
Sources
Comitini, P. (2012). The Strange Case of Addiction, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde. The Victorian Review recently published an article that explored the cultural and social aspects of nineteenth-century Britain. It examined the literature, art, and politics of the period in order to provide a thorough overview of the era. The article discussed the various ways in which the people of the time interacted with one another, as well as the various influences that shaped the culture of the time. It also analyzed the ways in which the period was a transition between the traditional and the modern, and how it impacted the lives of individuals living in the time. Finally, it highlighted the importance of this period in history and its continuing relevance for scholars today. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/133/article/546074/summary)
Danahay, M. (2013). Two Bodies of Dr. Jekyll. Nineteenth-Century Contexts, 35(1), 23-40. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08905495.2013.770616)
Rago, J. V. (2006). Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde: A. men’s narrative” of Hysteria, Containment.” Robert Louis Stevenson. Writer of Boundaries. Eds. Ambrosini and Richard Dury. Madison, WI. U of Wisconsin. 275-85. (https://studylib.net/doc/8040192/rago-jane-v.-dr.-jekyll-and-mr.-hyde-a-men-s-narrativ…)
Gaughan, R. T. (1987). Mr. Hyde. Mr. Seek. Utterson’s Antelope. The Journal of narrative technology, 17(2): 184-197. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/30225181)
Frank, C. O. (2010). Privacy, character, the authority of the self: A “Story of the Door”, in Dr. Jekyll’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll. English Language Notes, 48(2), 215-224. (https://read.dukeupress.edu/english-language-notes/article-abstract/48/2/215/136024/Privacy-Character-and-the-Jurisdiction-of-the-Self)
