CHARACTER ANALYSIS- Gabriel Utterson
- Created by: lucyevans1
- Created on: 20-04-17 13:09
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- CHARACTER ANALYSIS- Gabriel Utterson
- MAN OF REASON
- Typical Victorian gentleman
- "lover of the sane and customary side of life"
- Unwilling to consider any explanations which threaten to upset his rational wa of thinking
- Eg. When Jekyll locks himself in his cabinet because he is suffering forma disease- " plain and natural explanation"
- Typical Victorian gentleman
- EFFECTED BY THE DISTURBING NATURE OFF THE MYSTERY
- Enfield's story give him nightmares
- Hyde has "engaged or rather enslaved" his imagination
- Confused as it's impossible to use reason to make sense of something with a supernatural explaination
- When he meets Hyde for the first time he is mentally perplexed
- The supernatural of Hyde is strong enough to effect Utterson's emotions
- Memory of Hyde makes him "shudder in his blood"
- Enfield's story give him nightmares
- CURIOUS
- He does everything he can to see Hyde as he affects him in a particular way
- He waits outside the door "by all lights and at all hours"
- He feels "a singularly strong almost an inordinate, curiosity"
- REASONS WHY UTTERSON IS INTERESTED IN HYDE
- reputation is important to him so is shocked to find out that Jekyll is will to sacrifice his reputation for Hyde- so wants to find out whats going on to help Jekyll
- Believes the mystery of Hyde will roll away if its "well examined"
- Utterson may see something of his own dark side in Hyde so is drawn to him
- As the reader we are curious about the mystery surrounding Hyde
- STEVENSON= may be suggesting that we are all drawn to the darker side of life and can see the temptation of it
- He does everything he can to see Hyde as he affects him in a particular way
- REPRESSES HIS DESIRES
- He is strict with himself and doesn't allow himself many pleasures
- Described as a "austere"
- Eg. he enjoys the theatre but hasn't been in 20 years
- He has a human side but doesn't let it show in his speech
- Doesn't smile much and is "cold" and "dreary"
- CONTEXT= Theses negative descriptions could be criticising the way Victorian mean repressed their emotions
- Model of Victorian restraint
- People enjoy his company because his "rich silence" is calming after the "strain" of making light-hearted conversation
- He is strict with himself and doesn't allow himself many pleasures
- OBSESSED WITH REPUTATION
- THEME- DUALITY OF MAN = Truth about Jekyll and Hyde is more shocking than Utterson suspects, as it means that the appearance of respectability hides a much darker truth about the reality of human nature
- Aware of the importance of reputation which is why he is so concerned for Jekyll's good name
- partly hampers his ability to solve the mystery- doesn't want to find something out that will harm Jekyll's reputation
- "If your master.....is dead, we may at least save his credit"
- Wants to maintain respectability, order and propriety
- Eg. when Poole asked Utterson for help and takes him back to Jekyll's house, Utterson calls the servants' distress at Jekyll's behavior "very unseemly"
- Doesn't gossip or go against his sense of restraint to uncover the truth
- He doesn't read Lanyon's letter out of "professional honor"
- TOLERANT OF MAN'S DARKER SIDE
- he is loyal to those who gets themselves in trouble and tries to help them
- Says to Jekyll "Carew was my client, but so are you"
- Even though he plays by society's rules, he's understanding of when people fall foul on them
- BACKGROUND= Utterson's human side itself in the "acts of his life" . If he Victorian society was more tolerant towards human behavior, there would be no need to hide immoral desires
- He has a complicated attitude towards his dark side
- Although his past was "fairly blameless" , he feels had for what he views as the "many ill things" he done
- Like jekyll he sets himself high standards by avoiding what is seen as sinul behaviour
- Although his past was "fairly blameless" , he feels had for what he views as the "many ill things" he done
- He's been tempted by sin and feels a strange "envy" for those who can indulge in their misdeeds
- doesn't what to harm is reputation so feels grateful to have avoided committing more sins
- he is loyal to those who gets themselves in trouble and tries to help them
- MAN OF REASON
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