Mr Gabriel Utterson in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- rational
- curious
- calm
- respectable
Most of the novel is seen from Mr Utterson's perspective. Utterson is a lawyer and therefore a respectable, wealthy man in Victorian London. Stevenson shows Utterson's personality to be rational, calm and curious.
It is through these personality traits that Utterson uncovers the mystery of Dr Jekyll's will. This confuses him, as Jekyll's wish is to leave all of his belongings and wealth to the mysterious criminal Mr Hyde. Utterson's persistence leads him to discover the truth about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde's relationship.
| How is Utterson like this? | Evidence | Analysis | |
| Curious and persistent | Utterson is persistent in his quest to uncover the true reality of Mr Hyde and his relationship with Dr Jekyll. | "If he be Mr Hyde," he had thought, "I shall be Mr Seek." | This demonstrates Utterson's persistence in wanting to find Mr Hyde. Stevenson uses the pun "Mr Seek" to show Utterson's curious nature in discovering the truth about Mr Hyde. |
| Caring | Utterson cares about his friend, Dr Jekyll. He really admires him and values him as a friend - he wants to see Jekyll happy. | "This is very good of you, this is downright good of you, and I cannot find words to thank you in." | Jekyll's response to Utterson's good deed shows that Jekyll is grateful for what Utterson has done and for his friendship. |
| Outspoken | Utterson is outspoken when it comes to his dislike for Mr Hyde, Jekyll's beneficiary. | "I can't pretend that I shall ever like him," said the lawyer. | This shows that Utterson speaks his mind - to the point where his friendship with Jekyll could be compromised. |
| Curious and persistent | |
|---|---|
| How is Utterson like this? | Utterson is persistent in his quest to uncover the true reality of Mr Hyde and his relationship with Dr Jekyll. |
| Evidence | "If he be Mr Hyde," he had thought, "I shall be Mr Seek." |
| Analysis | This demonstrates Utterson's persistence in wanting to find Mr Hyde. Stevenson uses the pun "Mr Seek" to show Utterson's curious nature in discovering the truth about Mr Hyde. |
| Caring | |
|---|---|
| How is Utterson like this? | Utterson cares about his friend, Dr Jekyll. He really admires him and values him as a friend - he wants to see Jekyll happy. |
| Evidence | "This is very good of you, this is downright good of you, and I cannot find words to thank you in." |
| Analysis | Jekyll's response to Utterson's good deed shows that Jekyll is grateful for what Utterson has done and for his friendship. |
| Outspoken | |
|---|---|
| How is Utterson like this? | Utterson is outspoken when it comes to his dislike for Mr Hyde, Jekyll's beneficiary. |
| Evidence | "I can't pretend that I shall ever like him," said the lawyer. |
| Analysis | This shows that Utterson speaks his mind - to the point where his friendship with Jekyll could be compromised. |