Mr Utterson

• • Utterson becomes a symbol of social naivety in the face of hidden evil
• " He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone...) - Chapter 1 - repression, good vs evil, reality, duality 


  • The adjective "austere" connotes a self-imposed strictness, Utterson is vital for examining the repressive nature of Victorian society and gives us broader insight into the struggles Jekyll faces
  • On a surface level he is drinking "gin" to restrict himself from indulging in more expensive alcohol- it is repressing his true desires. However, drinking "gin" was associated with the lower classes thus why he only drinks it alone to avoid tarnishing his reputation.
• " He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone...) - Chapter 1 - repression, good vs evil, reality, duality 



  • This suggests a complex relationship between his private desires and his public image, highlighting the conflicts in navigating personal indulgence within a framework of public responsibility
• "You could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson a sincere and warm affection" - Chapter 3 - friendship, reality 


  • Utterson is quintessential Victorian gentleman. His sincerity and "warm affections" compounds his trustworthy and virtuous nature
  • The novella hinges on the motif of friendship and loyalty, embodied primarily through Utterson. He has genuine connections with Jekyll, Lanyon and Enfield providing a lens through which readers witness the pursuit of moral purity within Victorian society.
• "You could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson a sincere and warm affection" - Chapter 3 - friendship, reality 


  • The adjective 'sincere' serves a dual purpose. It reinforces his trustworthiness, yet exposes how Utterson's unwavering adherence to loyalty to his friends becomes his fatal flaw.
  • His focus on outward appearances, trained by his sterilising society, causes him to not witness the true heinousness of his beloved friend. Stevenson introduces a paradox through Utterson, the supposed moral compass, as he becomes a symbol of societal naivety in the face of hidden evil.
• "If he be Mr Hyde... I shall be Mr. Seek" - Chapter 2 - duality, repression, reality, good vs evil


  • "Hyde" and "seek" serve as symbols representing the duality within humanity. Even in the persona of Utterson, defined by austerity, Stevenson reveals the presence of morbid fascination and curiosity that lurks beneath the facade of even the most refined Victorian gentlemen
  • The homophone "Hyde" introduces the concept of disguise and illusion. Stevenson utilises this to expose the limitations of physiognomy - portrays how Victorian ideals of physiognomy can be deceptive and misleading.
• "If he be Mr Hyde...I shall be Mr Seek" - Chapter 2 - duality, repression, reality, good vs evil


  • While Utterson may not exhibit the exaggerated dualism of Jekyll, he nonetheless has his own suppressed desires and darker curiosity. This suggests that the repression of these impulses is a universal aspect of human nature, even in individuals who conform to societal norms
• 'It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it" - Chapter 6 - duality, repression, reality, good vs evil


  • verb "conquer" evokes imagery of a battlefield ana warfare, suggesting a metaphorical struggle within Utterson as he actively battles with his own human nature
  • This paints a vivid picture of Utterson engaged in an internal conflict, where he perceives overcoming his innate curiosity as a significant triumph
• 'It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it" - Chapter 6 - duality, repression, reality, good vs evil


  • Juxtaposition between "mortify" and "conquer" - difference between suppressing curiosity and eradicating it. Utterson's efforts to overcome his curiosity reflect a deeply ingrained societal conditioning where the repression of natural impulses is glorified as an achievement
  • Utterson's struggle reflects the hypocrisy in Victorian ideals, compelling the reader to question whether repressing curiosity is truly a mark of strength or a form of self-imposed limitation
• "borne in upon his kind a crushing anticipation of calamity" - Chapter 8 - science, religion, good vs evil


  • "borne" alludes to creation, which at the time would be associated with God, however, in this case is linked to science
  • The phrase "crushing anticipation of calamity" implies a sense of impending doom, suggesting that Utterson has realised that the displacement of religious authority by scientific understanding may bring about chaos -threatens to disrupt the foundational principles of morality in society, which have rooted in religious teachings for centuries