Jekyll and Hyde - Utterson Flashcards
points
- cares for his reputation
- reliable character
- loyal friend with good moral clarity
- super ego
- good victorian gentlemen
intro (describe Utterson)
Mr Utterson is presented as the central protagonist character who plays an important part in uncovering the truths in the novella
He is a prominent and upstanding lawyer, well respected in the London community
While not a man of science, Utterson represents an upper-class Victorian gentlemen. He is reserved and seems to possess a furtive curiosity about Hyde
points for Utterson - beginning
At the beginning of the novella, us readers can see Utterson as someone to trust since he’s presented as a good person with moral clarity
- reliable character, serious lawyer but still reputable with opinions that can be trusted
- good victorian gentlemen
‘he had an approved
tolerance for others’
‘he had an approved tolerance for others’
- kind and genial character
- understanding, willingness to tolerate behaviour that one disagrees or dislikes
- demonstrates idea his opinion can be trusted
‘the last good
influence on down-going men’
‘the last good influence on down-going men’
implies Utterson is rational and has desires for a good reputation
loyal friend to Jekyll -> link to ‘last reputable acquaintance’
‘rugged
countenance’
‘rugged countenance’
suggests he’s a tough man
‘never
lightened by a smile’
‘never lightened by a smile’
unemotional and keeps to himself
further implies we can trust his opinions
However Utterson is ‘yet somehow loveable’
which surprises readers as a contrast
- contradiction demonstrates duality of Utterson, suggests even good has a bad side
- foreshadows when he hides the letters
‘I incline
to Cains heresy’
‘I incline to Cains heresey’
biblical reference shows he’s uninterested in peoples sins and won’t judge
- open minded
‘dusty’
shows Utterson is lonely and by himself
‘his affections,
like ivy’
‘his affections, like ivy’
suggests he’s a loyal friend and has good morals
- good victorian gentlemen
‘humbled to the dust by
the many ill things he had done’
‘humbled to the dust by the many ill things he had done’
shows Utterson had troubles in his childhood
shocks a victorian reader as even a reputable gentleman like him has done ‘ill things’
‘ill things’ aren’t specified which shows secrecy which was prominent in victorian times
Utterson is mentally affected by mysteries associating Hyde
‘inordinate’ and has much ‘curiosity’ about Hyde -> excessive connection to the darker side of man -> shows temptation -> ideas of super ego
‘Hyde sat
heavy on his memory’
‘Hyde sat heavy on his memory’
alliteration shows physical impact of Hyde to Utterson
points for Utterson - middle
at the climax he’s further presented as an example of super ego
- contains his social conscience through the experience of guilt
- bad/biased lawyer
‘locked the note into his safe’
shows he’s a biased and bad lawyer -> gives into his temptation
- at first he wonders if he should give the letter to police but if he would be questioned it would ruin his and Jekylls reputation
- implies he cares about his reputation as a good victorian gentlemen