utterson as an isolated character

i partially agree with the statement that utterson is an isolated character. He is “austere” with himself, implying that he doesn’t indulge in his desires, although stevenson presents him as the moral councillor who attempts to save Jekyll from isolation.

utterson is presented as isolated in the extract, in his manners and actions

“drank gin when he was alone” - stevenson may be presenting the hypocrisy of the victorian gentlemen who criticised those who indulged in pleasure, yet they themselves did the same. Similarly, Utterson’s pious nature could depict him as isolated, his routines were aligned with the church clock, where at midnight he would go “soberly and gratefully to bed”, depicting him as isolated.

conversely, this isolated nature displays glimpses of a desire to indulge in his more evil nature

stevenson exemplifies the hypocrisy of victorian society

* utterson viewed the “misdeeds” of others “almost with envy” - conveying how even those who were the most morally aligned felt a desire to tap into their violent and provocative natures

utterson attempts to save jekyll from isolation through his loyalty

jekyll after the ending of the friendship with Lanyon, states he wants to go into a life of “extreme seclusion” demonstrating how his dual nature drives him to isolation, as the pious, evangelical christian society would shun him and ruin his reputation as a reputable doctor.

Utterson is known to be “the last good influence in the lives of going down men” as he was inclined to “help rather than reprove” - he attempts to save Jekyll from his isolation. he helps others with their misdeeds although he doesnt approve

isolation is heightened through the motif of windows

window was “half open”

the house was a “dingy windowless structure”

windows were “barred with iron”

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* this imagery of a lack of windows symbolises the secrecy of Jekyll and how he attempts to hide his dual nature, he attempts to isolate his id from his ego.