Gabriel Utterson

Gabriel Utterson

1. Consider how the character changes in the novel. How does this character develop as the novel progresses?

   • At the beginning of the novel, Utterson is depicted as a dull, proper Victorian gentleman who is quite rational and reasonable, although lacking imagination. However, as the novel progresses and Utterson investigates the events that are happening around him, he becomes more aware of the abnormalities surrounding the mystery of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, causing him to slightly disregard his sense of order and rationality, and opening his eyes to illogical possibilities.

2. Identify the key moments for this character. Which section of the novel do they play an important part in?

   • Because Utterson is the main protagonist of the novel, he plays an important part in most of the story, especially with his investigations and interactions with Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

3. Does thinking about a theme develop your understanding of this character?

   • One of the themes throughout ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ is the importance of reputation. Although Utterson suspects Jekyll of being blackmailed, he does not make his suspicions known. Utterson, staying true to his victorian morals, preserves Jekyll’s reputation and does not ruin his respectability. This demonstrates that Utterson is a nice, understanding friend of Jekyll’s, and is also willing to guard his friends’ reputation as if they were his own.

4. Look at your notes about the historical context of the novel. Does this develop your understanding of the character?

5. Pick at least three quotations for your character. Annotate them to consider how Stevenson has used language to tell us something about the character.

6. Consider why they are important in the novel. Why do you think Stevenson included this character?

   • Main characters, majority from the book is from his point of view, anrator of the book, investigates the connection between jekyll and hyde