There is a distinct lack of female influence in the text, so rather than romantic relationships being depicted, Stevenson only presents the friendships between bachelors
Good friendships
True friendship is presented as an admirable trait by Stevenson
Jekyll is a sociable man who enjoys hosting friends
Utterson's friendships seem to be founded in a similar catholicity of good nature
Utterson is unhappy about what Jekyll is doing
But Stevenson's use of the noun "friend" emphasises the relationship the two have despite their disagreement
Bad friendships
Lanyon says "Henry Jekyll became too fanciful for me", suggesting the distance grew between them over time
Stevenson's use of fricatives in "fanciful" implies falsity, suggesting Lanyon could be interpreted as a false friend
