Mr. Utterson/Gentlemen Quotes

themes: secrecy, loyalty (refusal - reputation), Victorian gentlemen (rational), seeking truth

Ivy (gentlemen)

his affections, like ivy (ch 1)

• the simile of Ivy to describe Utterson’s friendships presents them as strong and ever growing, as Ivy commonly clings to the sides of houses and grows around

rugged countenance (gentlemen)

Mr. Utterson was a man of rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile (ch 1)

• the description ‘rugged countenance’ suggests that Utterson is tough and a reserved character, who isn’t affected by emotion

• Is aware of the divide between public and private persona in Victorian society

• the phrase ‘never lighted by a smile’ presents Utterson as unemotional

• the verb ‘lighted’ could be interpreted as a sort of freedom from Victorian social standards that as a gentlemen Utterson is held down by

lover (gentlemen)

lover of the sane and customary sides of life (ch 1)

• the adjective ‘sane’ helps display how Utterson is a reliable narrator and is a reasonable and rational person

Mr. Seek (seek truth)

If he be Mr. Hyde… I shall be Mr. Seek (ch 2)

• this quote displays his insatiable curiosity that helps propels the plot of the novel forwards

• The emphasis of ‘Hyde’ and ‘Seek’ displays the theme of duality, opposites, and contrast which is woven throughout the novel. It also provides Utterson with the role of a detective in the ‘strange case’ of Jekyll & Hyde.

sat heavy (seek truth)

Hyde sat heavy on his mind (ch 2)

• the alliteration helps emphasize how consuming Hyde is of Utterson’s thoughts, and how he could be feeling overwhelmed and held down with all of these questions and thoughts on the matter

• the imagery of Hyde sitting could be interpreted as him tormenting or mocking Utterson

imagination (seek truth)

his imagination was engaged, or rather enslaved (ch 2)

• the depressing verb ‘enslaved’ helps create an image of Hyde as a tormenting character and how he slowly corrupts all the people near him: Jekyll, Lanyon

• the use of imagination shows how Utterson now has to change his standard Victorian Gentlemen approach as Hyde is not at all normal or natural

• the verb engaged could be used to show how intriguing Hyde is, and overall how interesting transgressive science is to Victorian Gentlemen

tongue (secrecy)

I am ashamed of my long tongue (ch 1)

• ‘long tongue’ refers to gossiping, as Utterson is trying to protect Jekyll’s reputation, he doesn’t want to discuss or potentially ruin any aspect of him

• verb ‘ashamed’ portrays how dedicated Utterson is to keeping Jekyll’s secrets and status

speak note (secrecy)

I wouldn’t speak note of this, you know (ch 5)

• after figuring out that Jekyll wrote a letter impersonating Hyde, Utterson immediately makes sure Mr. Guest doesn’t discuss this news with anyone else, his first reaction was to stop any gossip that could hurt his friend Jekyll’s reputation.

• Utterson doesn’t make any assumptions of Jekyll, instead of considering what it could mean, he doesn’t judge Jekyll and gives him the benefit of the doubt

private safe (secrecy)

slept in the inmost corner of his private safe (ch 6)

• Utterson’s safe could act as a symbol for his loyalty and the weight of professional responsibility or it could symbolise his repressed mind, hiding away all the documents connecting Hyde to Jekyll as possibly some way to distance himself from the immoral and irrational

• “inmost” reflects Utterson’s determination to keep Jekyll’s secrets hidden, as his friend he will use all of his power to protect his reputation

walked (secrecy)

walked on once more in silence (ch 7)

• the verb ‘walked’ could be a physical interpretation of Utterson avoiding/repressing and ‘walking’ away from the difficult situation he’s in, as it’s so unusual

• the fact it’s ‘in silence’ enhances how secretive they keep it, throughout the novel there are key parts of the plot hidden from the reader to help build the mystery and tension

God (secrecy)

God forgive us, God forgive us (ch 7)

• Utterson asking for forgiveness from God shows us that Utterson feels that he is being sinful in covering and protecting Jekyll’s immoral doings or it could be that Utterson is shocked from the unnatural things he saw and is looking for safety and comfort in God

• repetition emphasizes his desperation in trying to reach God and his goodness, or it could reflect his trembling fear of the truth of Jekyll

never to refer (refusal)

Let us make a bargain never to refer to this again (ch 1)

• Utterson refuses to discuss Hyde’s connection with Jekyll because he wants to protect Jekyll’s reputation, and being associated with the monster Hyde will do him no good

• Even though Utterson is curious, he puts reputation and secrecy above, as it’s more important

left the court (refusal)

they turned and left the court without a word (ch 7)

• the verb ‘turned’ could be a physical interpretation of ‘turning a blind eye’ and denying the obvious truth to preserve their friend and their stubborn Victorian mindset

• “without a word” could show that as Gentlemen they are willing to drop a problem without an answer and simply accept that some people have secrets

poor soul (refusal)

the poor soul retains some help of ultimate recovery (ch 8)

• the adjective ‘poor’ presents Jekyll as a victim. Utterson is so unimaginative he can’t seem to comprehend that Jekyll possesses the capability for evil

• Utterson still has hope that Jekyll could go back to normal with his ‘ultimate recovery’, that this issue will pass, and is overall oblivious or ignorant to the severity of it

plain and natural (refusal)

but it is plain and natural (ch 8)

• this phrase is quite ironic as the reality is the complete opposite, instead of a logical/rational answer, the truth is that Jekyll is using complicated unnatural transgressive science.

• This irony helps display Utterson as a rational thinking character, and as a Victorian Gentlemen he doesn’t indulge in more imaginative ideas

plainly seized (refusal)

is plainly seized with one of those maladies (ch 8)

• the violent verb ‘seized’ presents Jekyll as a victim of an illness, which isn’t far from the truth, as Jekyll’s duality could be viewed as more of a mental struggle, and that Hyde is plaguing Jekyll’s mind and body. It could also be viewed as another unimaginative excuse Utterson has thought of to try to deny the unpleasant truth