character profile- Mr Gabriel Utterson

Question 1

one quotation to describe Utterson as serious

Answer 1

” a rugged countenance, that was never lighted by a smile”

Question 2

one quotation to describe Utterson as reputable

Answer 2

“the last good influence in the lives of down-going men

Question 3

one quotation to describe Utterson as brave

Answer 3

“i shall consider it my duty to break in that door”

Question 4

one quotation to describe Utterson as a typically rational Victorian gentleman

Answer 4

“a lover of the sane and customary sides of life”

Question 5

what is Utterson’s job

Answer 5

lawyer

Question 6

describe how Enfield’s story about Hyde gives Utterson nightmares

Answer 6

Utterson says that Hyde has “engaged or rather enslaved” his imagination instead of affecting him on a purely intellectual level

Question 7

describe how Utterson feels when he first meets Hyde

Answer 7

feels “mental perplexity” - he’s confused because it’s impossible to use reason to make sense of something that has supernatural explanation. memory of Hyde makes Utterson feel a “shudder in his blood”

Question 8

describe how Utterson is curious bout Hyde

Answer 8

something about Hyde that particularly affects utterson. he feels “a singularly strong, almost an inordinate, curiosity” to see Hyde and does everything he can to do so- he waits outside the door “by all lights and all hours”

Question 9

describe how Utterson represses his desires

Answer 9

Utterson described as “austere”- he’s strict with himself and doesn’t allow himself many pleasures . he doesn’t smile much and is “cold” and “dreary”, has a more human side but doesn’t let it show in his speech

Question 10

describe how Utterson is obsessed with reputation

Answer 10

-wants to maintain respectability, order and propriety- when Poole asks Utterson for help and takes him back to Jekyll’s house, Utterson calls servants’ distress at Jekyll’s behaviour “very unseemly”

Question 11

describe how Utterson is loyal

Answer 11

he’s loyal to those who get into trouble and tries to help them- he tells Jekyll that “Carew was my client, but so are you”. even though Utterson plays by society’s rules , he’s understanding when people fall foul of them. if Victorian society was more tolerant of human behaviour less need to hide immoral desires

Question 12

describe Utterson’s complicated attitude towards his own dark side

Answer 12

• although his past was “fairly blameless”, he feels bad for what he views as the “many ill things” he’s done
• he’s bee tempted to sin and feels a strange “envy” for those who can indulge in their misdeeds