“Gabriel Utterson”
His name suggests dual nature, Gabriel reminds us of the angel, a character clearly on the side of God,
but this is contrasted with his surname.
Indicating that he is completely human and will share the same thoughts as human nature.
Stevenson is making the point to what human nature is about, between what is human about us and
what is holy about us.
“Loathing... At first sight... only natural”
Here you can see Hyde's evil as easily overlooked, one of the most evil desire is to murder, this is the
same feeling Enfield and the family have which is “only natural”.
This shows the Hypocrisy of the middle-class/upper-class men and women.
Here Stevenson is alluding to human nature which is quite happy to fantasise murdering. Hyde will
murder but why? is it expressing his evil nature or is it an attack on Victorian impulse to repress
desires.
“Unknown disgust, loathing and fear”
No good feelings can come from meeting him. Earlier on in the novella Utterson expresses his
“inordinate curiosity to behold the features of the real Mr Hyde” and expects the mystery to
“lighten”. Instead he becomes even more disturbed effectively showing how Hyde is full of negativity
and confusion, and how you will never find/associate any light with him. Jekyll (the supposed light) is
the same person.
Rule of three – emphasises how strongly Utterson is repulsed from Hyde and confirm suspicions
gathered from the beginning of the passage that there is something wrong with Hyde.
“The last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of down-going men”
This suggests that Utterson represents Victorian rationalism, always searching out for logical
explanations and dismissing the supernatural.
However, although he is a good character, he still is friends of men who have dual nature, suggesting
he chooses evil over good.
“It wasn't like a man; it was like some damned Juggernaut”
Through the Christian allusion of damned, Stevenson suggests that religion is the problem.
Instead of the world, which is a battle between good and evil, perhaps he is implying that Hyde's
desires are simply natural. He implies evil is caused by Christian suppression of natural desires.
A “juggernaut” is known for its enormous size and its destructiveness, therefore it’s a paradox that “a
little man” can be described as a “juggernaut” – an example of duality.
“There is something more, if I could find a name for it”
Hyde doesn't resemble any normal human being and therefore people find his appearance
disconnecting.
However, what makes everyone so uneasy is that he is a reflection of themselves, it is this refusal to
recognize what they are seeing which is a part of themselves which causes them such disgust.
“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way”
Biblical allusion – When Cain answers to God that he isn’t his brother’s keeper.
Utterson minds his own business – doesn’t get involved with other’s affairs – observing, neutral. In
contrast he cares deeply about Jekyll’s situation throughout the novella – showing his more
sympathetic side – not just a cold lawyer, and his loyalty to his friends.
He is saying that he will not intervene in another man’s business, this foreshadows events in the bible
with Cain and able. The irony here is that Evil Cain kills his good brother, showing that Hyde wishes to
take over Jekyll. This suggests that mankind is more in-tuned with the devil than God. Utterson speaks
in formal sentences and avoids simplistic language to reflect his profession as a lawyer.
“The moon shone on his face as [Sir Danvers] spoke”, “beautiful”, “innocence”
, Moon imagery: suggests a spiritual nature to his being, maid regards him with awe. It reflects class
hierarchy at that time – people of lower class regarded those above them as so superior as to almost
be godly.
Highlighting his elegance and difference from Hyde – complete contrast to Hyde’s reckless violence.
“With ape-like fury, [Hyde] was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows, under
which the bones were audibly shattered”
“ape-like”, “trampling”: animalistic, frenzied, uncontrollable fits of violence. Supports themes of Hyde
being inhuman and uncivilized. Links to Utterson’s earlier description “without bowels of mercy”
(something inherently human that Hyde lacks).
“hailing down a storm of blows”: imagery of a storm – fierce, dangerous, huge. Nature is
unpredictable, similar to Hyde’s actions e.g. Hyde attacking Sir Danvers out of nowhere.
“bones audibly shattered”: aural imagery helps to effectively illustrate the horror of the scene. The
fact that the maid can hear it from so far above emphasises the power behind Hyde’s actions. Causes
reader to imagine these sounds – experience the horror in a more personal way.
“The smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as
froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below”
Represents the theme: loss of control.
“struck”: sudden, violent, like he was slapped, unexpected.
Horrifies and leaves the reader unsettled – recurring theme of an unspeakable, abstract evil presence
associated with Jekyll.
“such abject terror and despair”: as horrifying as possible, to the extreme.
“froze the blood”: cold terror – secondhand horror. Utterson and Enfield are caught off guard by this
sudden terror – to have been that shocking it must have been otherworldly/ of the devil.
“I want you to hear, and I don’t want you to be heard. And see here, sir, if by any chance he was to ask you in,
don’t go”
Hints at something dangerous being inside.
Poole hiding the presence of Utterson – trying to show him without Hyde’s words being biased due to
the presence of someone else.
These grim warnings cause the reader to mirror the apprehension and fear of Utterson to some
extent. Poses the questions – what would happen if he did? Why not?
“Temptation of a discovery”
” temptation”: like a drug – refers to the theme of addiction. Foreshadows Jekyll’s eventual
dependence on the potion. Dramatic irony, we already know he becomes addicted as seen in “The
Last Night” when Jekyll had London ransacked for a certain salt used in it.
“of a discovery”: could reflect his ambition – both scientific and personal. Blinded by his aspirations.
“Theory to the test of practice” – using scientific terminology at the beginning of the passage however
the phrase “heady recklessness” signifies a loss of professionalism, and a childish lack of foresight.
“I could not think that this earth contained a place for sufferings and terrors son unmanning”
“this earth”: the terrors are something otherworldly, above the sins of mankind and too horrifying to
be contained in such a place.
Reader is extremely unsettled as Jekyll doesn’t name these evils – ambiguity.
“Instantly the spirit of hell awoke in me and raged”
Personification helps to illustrate the violent re-entry of Hyde into Jekyll’s life – “spirit of hell”: theme
of inhumanity, devil spawn (Hyde).
“raged”: fierce anger, uncontrollable and destructive.
“awoke”: from sleep – never left in the first place – Hyde is now a permanent part of Jekyll.
“I should like to very much... I dare not”
His name suggests dual nature, Gabriel reminds us of the angel, a character clearly on the side of God,
but this is contrasted with his surname.
Indicating that he is completely human and will share the same thoughts as human nature.
Stevenson is making the point to what human nature is about, between what is human about us and
what is holy about us.
“Loathing... At first sight... only natural”
Here you can see Hyde's evil as easily overlooked, one of the most evil desire is to murder, this is the
same feeling Enfield and the family have which is “only natural”.
This shows the Hypocrisy of the middle-class/upper-class men and women.
Here Stevenson is alluding to human nature which is quite happy to fantasise murdering. Hyde will
murder but why? is it expressing his evil nature or is it an attack on Victorian impulse to repress
desires.
“Unknown disgust, loathing and fear”
No good feelings can come from meeting him. Earlier on in the novella Utterson expresses his
“inordinate curiosity to behold the features of the real Mr Hyde” and expects the mystery to
“lighten”. Instead he becomes even more disturbed effectively showing how Hyde is full of negativity
and confusion, and how you will never find/associate any light with him. Jekyll (the supposed light) is
the same person.
Rule of three – emphasises how strongly Utterson is repulsed from Hyde and confirm suspicions
gathered from the beginning of the passage that there is something wrong with Hyde.
“The last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of down-going men”
This suggests that Utterson represents Victorian rationalism, always searching out for logical
explanations and dismissing the supernatural.
However, although he is a good character, he still is friends of men who have dual nature, suggesting
he chooses evil over good.
“It wasn't like a man; it was like some damned Juggernaut”
Through the Christian allusion of damned, Stevenson suggests that religion is the problem.
Instead of the world, which is a battle between good and evil, perhaps he is implying that Hyde's
desires are simply natural. He implies evil is caused by Christian suppression of natural desires.
A “juggernaut” is known for its enormous size and its destructiveness, therefore it’s a paradox that “a
little man” can be described as a “juggernaut” – an example of duality.
“There is something more, if I could find a name for it”
Hyde doesn't resemble any normal human being and therefore people find his appearance
disconnecting.
However, what makes everyone so uneasy is that he is a reflection of themselves, it is this refusal to
recognize what they are seeing which is a part of themselves which causes them such disgust.
“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way”
Biblical allusion – When Cain answers to God that he isn’t his brother’s keeper.
Utterson minds his own business – doesn’t get involved with other’s affairs – observing, neutral. In
contrast he cares deeply about Jekyll’s situation throughout the novella – showing his more
sympathetic side – not just a cold lawyer, and his loyalty to his friends.
He is saying that he will not intervene in another man’s business, this foreshadows events in the bible
with Cain and able. The irony here is that Evil Cain kills his good brother, showing that Hyde wishes to
take over Jekyll. This suggests that mankind is more in-tuned with the devil than God. Utterson speaks
in formal sentences and avoids simplistic language to reflect his profession as a lawyer.
“The moon shone on his face as [Sir Danvers] spoke”, “beautiful”, “innocence”
, Moon imagery: suggests a spiritual nature to his being, maid regards him with awe. It reflects class
hierarchy at that time – people of lower class regarded those above them as so superior as to almost
be godly.
Highlighting his elegance and difference from Hyde – complete contrast to Hyde’s reckless violence.
“With ape-like fury, [Hyde] was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows, under
which the bones were audibly shattered”
“ape-like”, “trampling”: animalistic, frenzied, uncontrollable fits of violence. Supports themes of Hyde
being inhuman and uncivilized. Links to Utterson’s earlier description “without bowels of mercy”
(something inherently human that Hyde lacks).
“hailing down a storm of blows”: imagery of a storm – fierce, dangerous, huge. Nature is
unpredictable, similar to Hyde’s actions e.g. Hyde attacking Sir Danvers out of nowhere.
“bones audibly shattered”: aural imagery helps to effectively illustrate the horror of the scene. The
fact that the maid can hear it from so far above emphasises the power behind Hyde’s actions. Causes
reader to imagine these sounds – experience the horror in a more personal way.
“The smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as
froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below”
Represents the theme: loss of control.
“struck”: sudden, violent, like he was slapped, unexpected.
Horrifies and leaves the reader unsettled – recurring theme of an unspeakable, abstract evil presence
associated with Jekyll.
“such abject terror and despair”: as horrifying as possible, to the extreme.
“froze the blood”: cold terror – secondhand horror. Utterson and Enfield are caught off guard by this
sudden terror – to have been that shocking it must have been otherworldly/ of the devil.
“I want you to hear, and I don’t want you to be heard. And see here, sir, if by any chance he was to ask you in,
don’t go”
Hints at something dangerous being inside.
Poole hiding the presence of Utterson – trying to show him without Hyde’s words being biased due to
the presence of someone else.
These grim warnings cause the reader to mirror the apprehension and fear of Utterson to some
extent. Poses the questions – what would happen if he did? Why not?
“Temptation of a discovery”
” temptation”: like a drug – refers to the theme of addiction. Foreshadows Jekyll’s eventual
dependence on the potion. Dramatic irony, we already know he becomes addicted as seen in “The
Last Night” when Jekyll had London ransacked for a certain salt used in it.
“of a discovery”: could reflect his ambition – both scientific and personal. Blinded by his aspirations.
“Theory to the test of practice” – using scientific terminology at the beginning of the passage however
the phrase “heady recklessness” signifies a loss of professionalism, and a childish lack of foresight.
“I could not think that this earth contained a place for sufferings and terrors son unmanning”
“this earth”: the terrors are something otherworldly, above the sins of mankind and too horrifying to
be contained in such a place.
Reader is extremely unsettled as Jekyll doesn’t name these evils – ambiguity.
“Instantly the spirit of hell awoke in me and raged”
Personification helps to illustrate the violent re-entry of Hyde into Jekyll’s life – “spirit of hell”: theme
of inhumanity, devil spawn (Hyde).
“raged”: fierce anger, uncontrollable and destructive.
“awoke”: from sleep – never left in the first place – Hyde is now a permanent part of Jekyll.
“I should like to very much... I dare not”
