Mr. Utterson
By Niona Kyhle - Kahr
First impressions as a reader:
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‘The perfect Victorian gentlemen’
Well respected
Un exciting character
Very routine-like; “It was his custom Sunday”
Very punctual/exact; “soberly and gratefully to bed”
Not a man of strong passions
Calm and rational
Loyal
Dull and proper
“lean, long, dusty, dreary”
- “yet somehow lovable”
As the story goes on . . . We begin to
realize . . .
• He consistently seeks to preserve order
• Does not gossip
• Guards his friends’ reputations as though
they were his own
• He investigates the super-natural Jekyll and
Hyde sequence of events but never begins to
even consider that something uncanny might
be going on!
• Lacks imagination
In the novel . .
• Mr. Utterson is used as a narrative device
He (himself):
• spends much of the novel trying to advise and
help Jekyll, Jekyll recognizes that he is a good
friend, but rejects all his offers of help.
• At no stage does he consider that Jekyll +
Hyde are the same person
Themes associated with Mr.Utterson
Contrast –
• His normality/sanity in comparison to Jekyll’s
• His sense of shock and horror when he first
meets Hyde is, by contrast to his normal
reaction to things, irrational: “not all these
points together could explain the hitherto
unknown disgust, loathing and fear with
which Mr Utterson regarded him.”
• Duality –
• The knowing of both Jekyll and Hyde (when
they are the same person)
• Change of beliefs (doesn’t know what to
believe anymore after seeing Jekyll transform)
Madness• The complete insanity of Jekyll’s case that he
investigates
• Religion• ‘Not a man of science’
• Often refers to ‘god’ e.g. seeing Jekyll transform;
“Oh god forgive us, god forgive us!!”
• Simply relies on religion as a last resort, but feels
that Jekyll’s case completely contradicts it.
Social expectation• Very socially respected within the community
• Guards his friends reputations as if they were his
own
The themes are important to the story
because . .
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Social expectation shows his significant place in
society, also, if there wasn’t any, Jekyll wouldn’t
have to have the urge to transform into Hyde.
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Duality shows a contrast between the characters
at different levels of the novel.
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Religion adds a dispute between science and
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
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Madness shows the seriousness of Jekyll’s
situation with Hyde and the danger that he is in.
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Contrast shows a significant difference in
characters and their motives throughout the
novel.
Thank you for
watching and
have a
BRILLINOSIC
DAY!!