Utterson chapter 1-2

• • Utterson contorms to the tropes of a quintessential Victorian Gentleman, "he was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages".
  • The adjective "austere" connotes to 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 and laments.
• • On a surface level he drinking "gin" to restrct hmslf frm indulgin in mre 💵 alcohol-wine, very act of drinkin if is repressing or ‘mortify[ing]’ true desres Howvr for this reasn drinks alone avoid tarnishing reputatin.
  • interstin he drnks "gin" when alne as has ++ alchol cotent thn wine- drunkenness associated w/withdrwn ur inhibitns- suggests needs this respite frm austerity faces the public sphere. Perhaps, he iscompensating for this breach of his own austerity by refusn drink alcohol truly desirs, to cling to sm semblance of austerity.
• • He looks at others,almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds" which implies he is jealous of their misdeeds and liberal nature, something which he closes himself off from.
  • There is an irony in the fact he is a lawyer but experiences an inclination or attraction towards wrongdoings.
• • The noun "spirits" gives a supernatural immorality to their sins but also subtly acknowledges it is out of their control, it is inherent within human nature.

  Overall, as Utterson is the narrator Stevenson works to paced and straity, so perspes he hoste mystery.
• Topic snetance 


  Utterson personifies the self-imposed repression that Stevenson portrays as a pre-requisite of being the respectable Victorian Gentleman, he seems to lack autonomy as he is conforming so closely to what is expected of him.
• • Utterson conducts his life under the constraints of religion, he would stay awake "until the clock of the neighbouring church rang out the hour of twelve, when he would go soberly and gratefully to bed".Religion is not just conducting his morality, it subtly influences every aspect of his life, it seems he lacks autonomy
  • Although, for the majority of the text Utterson avoids lofty and poetic descriptions and interpretations of events, there are intermittent flourishes of decadent description.
• • Within his subconscious, dreamlike mind he paints a picture of the "wider labyrinths of lamplighted city", his mind is plagued by vivid thoughts of that "human Juggernaut" , so much so that it becomes fanciful. This serves to introduce mystery into the novella.
  • "labyrinths" could be an allusion to the Greek legend of the Minotaur which would suggest a beast living within the city- this could be ambiguous as it could be referring to Hyde or more broadly the darkness ofman.
  • "labyrinths" also connote to the state of being lost-foreshadows how Hyde will be lost to Jekyll.
• Topic snetance 


  Utterson conducts his life according to religion and consequently sacrifices his autonomy, Stevenson uses him to explore the chokehold religion has over Victorian society.