Utterson

• key traits

  • showcases behaviour expected of V.Gs
  • one of the only surviving characters
  • repressed
  • trustworthy
  • unrelatable to a modern reader
• Duality

  'wider labyrinths of lamp lighted city'
• 'wider labyrinths of lamp lighted city'

  • Utterson's mind is plauged by thoughts of that 'human juggernaut' so much that it becomes fanciful, this serves to introduce mystery to the novella
  • Ao3- labyrinths could be an allusion to the Greek legend of the Minotaur which could imply a beast living in the city
  • labyrinths- implies a state of being lost, foreshadows how Jekyll will be lost to Hyde
• Repression

  'he was asture with himself: drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages'
• 'he was asture with himself: drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages'

  • asture, adj, self imposed strictness
  • on a surface level he is drinking gin to restrict himself from indulging in more expensive alcohol the act of drinking it is 'mortifying' his true desires, however for this reason gin was associated with the lower classes so it drinks it alone to avoid tarnishing his reputation
• Quote 1

  I'll let my brother go to the devil in his own way
• I'll let my brother go to the devil in his own way

  • brother- suggests it does not matter how close he is with the person he will not feel responsibility over their actions
  • devil is used as a metaphor for people falling into behaviour that is considered immoral and sinful
  • Ao3- the Victorian era stressed morality and restraint, both in public and private VGs had to meet these expectations, Stevenson alludes to how many struggled to meet these expectations and lead duplicate lives due to this
• Quote 2

  ''If he shall be Mr Hyde'' he had thought ''I shall be Mr Seek''
• ''If he shall be Mr Hyde'' he had thought ''I shall be Mr Seek''

  • Utterson reveals his inquisitive side as he had previously claimed not to care about people
  • play on words hints that Utterson is enjoying himself on his quest, his curiosity is a key plot device as if he was as reserved as was suggested in the beginning we would not have the means to find out more about Jekyll and Hyde
• Quote 3

  'If your master had fled or is dead we may at least save his credit'
• 'If your master had fled or is dead we may at least save his credit'

  • Utterson is concerned about Jekyll after he suspects he is involved in something dangerous or criminal
  • fled/is dead- implies protecting Jekyll's reputation is more important than if he is dead or missing
  • save his credit- metaphor for not allowing any details of Jekyll's behaviour into high society which demonstrates Utterson's loyalty
  • Ao3- in Victorian society there was a heavy emphasis on the importance of reputations & Utterson's panic here highlights the fragility of respectability