The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R. Stevenson describes the dualism of human
personality and a very serious case of psychopathic disease suffered by the
main hero of the novel, Dr. Henry Jekyll. The novel starts with a strange murder
in London and a number of strange issues in the life of Dr. Jekyll who bequeathed
all his property to the unknown person Mr. Hyde, who he called his friend. All
these events looked very strange for the good friend of Dr. Jekyll and his lawyer
Mr. Gabriel Utterson. Understanding that all of these events have a very strange
and mysterious character and that murders may have direct or indirect relationship
to his client and friend Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Utterson was keeping all the investigated
information in his mind and didn’t share it with anyone in order to find
the truth first. The relations of the characters in the novel and the way of
their behavior tell us much about the epoch of the nineteenth century: Victorian
age, which was also characterized by the dualism of human personality and by
hidden arrogance.
From this point the friendship of Utterson and Mr. Jekyll will look very strange
by today standards but in Victorian England of the nineteenth century it was
common practice. Neither Doctor Jekyll nor Gabriel Utterson shares their views
frankly about the strange events, which took place in London. Utterson, even
accusing Jekyll, nearly does nothing in order to help him and find out what
is going on in his personality. From this point the friendship of these two
persons looks typical for Victorian Epoch: reserved according to the ethics
of noble society. Even the description of Gabriel Utterson outlines it: “Mr.
Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance, that was never lighted
by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment;
lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow lovable…”
In addition we find out that he suppressed his passions and desires, representing
the superiority of reason over emotions: “He was austere with himself;
drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages; and though he
enjoyed the theater, had not crossed the doors of one for twenty years.”
That’s why we can conclude that the friendship of Utterson and Jekyll
was based only on reason and common sense of two men from the aristocratic society;
neither their talks nor their behavior was fully emotional and alive. But at
the same time Utterson posses a very rare quality of devotedness and faithfulness
to his friends, which was not in many respects typical for Victorian ethics
of arrogance. Utterson remains in friendly terms with his friends whose reputation
had suffered from some sorts of accidents or scandals. He remains faithful to
his friendship with Dr. Jekyll despite a number of suspicions which live in
his mind and which give him sufferings. Utterson suspects Dr. Jekyll in blackmailing
activities and murder.
Utterson’s suspicions derive from the change in the behavior of Dr. Jekyll
as he broke up with his other old friend Lanyon and now seeks solitude and loneliness,
which cannot be understood by lawyer. As the scientific views of both Lanyon
and Jekyll diverged, Jekyll decides to continue his experiments in full alienation
from his close friends and people whom he knows and respects. He says Utterson
that his behavior and decisions should not be discussed, but only understood
and approved: “I have to go my own dark way” and the lawyer should
not try to follow him. From this point lawyer Utterson, being a reserved and
restrained person, appears to be a very generous and noble man, as he remains
faithful to his friend and is able at least to be a good listener, which is
often more important than any other kind of help. Jekyll also confesses to Utterson
that he has to handle a terrible punishment which on not be imagined by anyone
else, as it turned him into “a chief of sinners” because of his
own guilt. As we can see later in the novel his guilt is explained in his arrogant
ambitions to achieve superiority, neglecting simple morals and ethical rules.
Mr. Utterson continues his investigation, as he understands there is something
else than simple human madness, but his other friend Lanyon dies leaving him
an envelope, which has the key to the mystery of Dr. Jekyll. Utterson cannot
open envelope, as it has to be opened only after disappearance or death of Jekyll,
from the other side he torments as Dr. Jekyll left the similar will, which has
to be given to Mr. Hyde after his death. These two envelops even look very strange
for Utterson, yet he makes his mind leave things as they are as he first of
all has to keep the duty given to his friend. Such feature of faithfulness distinguishes
Utterson from other characters; in addition it outlines his professionalism
and tact of a good lawyer. We can assume that such qualities supplemented his
reserved and restrained nature and otherwise he would be a different person,
but nevertheless his deeds show that first of all Utterson was a man of honor.
Making a conclusion I would like to say that attitude to friends and actions
of lawyer Utterson are worth admiration as he was able to keep the very secrets
of hi close friends and was devoted to them till the last minute, despite scandals
and other accidents which shacked their reputation.
