Mr. Utterson
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is told from the eyes of Mr. Utterson. A lawyer, Utterson is a fairly rational man and an altogether "good" person. However, he is also rather boring; in fact, Utterson is first introduced as "lean, long, dusty, dreary and yet somehow lovable." (page 5). So, although his demeanor is in many ways dull, his willingness to remain friends with those who have lost their reputability makes him admirable. Even when he suspects Jekyll of foul play, he remains determined to protect his friend's reputation. Also, throughout the story, Utterson is determined to justify all of the unusual events logically and does not consider the possibility of any supernatural explanation. In this way, Utterson is the epitome of the Victorian man and Victorian society as a whole. His refusal to acknowledge the darker side of human nature and his commitment to logical reason was Stevenson's representation of his society's commitment to propriety. Utterson helps contribute to the portrayal of Victorian society as an example of Freud's "superego" in contrast to Jekyll and Hyde's depiction as the ego and id. |
Dr. Henry Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Although Jekyll and Hyde are initially depicted as two separate characters, in reality, they are one. Their distinct differences display Stevenson's assertion that all human beings have the capacity for "evil" within them. Jekyll sought to separate the good within a person from that which is evil; he succeeded only partially. With the manifestation of Hyde, he was able to create a separate entity to harness the darkest side of human nature; however, he himself remained a mix of the two rather than becoming purely "good." This brings to question whether he was overpowered by Hyde, or he simply allowed it to happen. If he was overwhelmed by his darker alter ego, it proves that human beings' darker, primal side is stronger than that of society. However, Jekyll's allowance of Hyde's take over would suggest that at the basic level, people want to indulge in their selfish and instinctual desires. In many ways, it is not necessarily a question of "good vs. evil", but rather a question of our desires versus the constraints of society. For "good" and "evil" are overused and relative terms. In the eyes of Freud, Hyde would represent the child-like and impulsive id, while Jekyll would represent the ego attempting to find the "middle ground" between the desires of his id and the moral principles of his superego/society. |
Dr. Lanyon
Lanyon is a doctor, like Jekyll; however, his beliefs are significantly different than those of Jekyll. From the beginning, Lanyon speaks scornfully of Jekyll's experiments and makes it clear that he no longer desires the fellow doctor's friendship. It is evident that Lanyon is the personification of Victorian ideals and society, also representing the psyche's superego, a person's moral code that solely follows "right and wrong." He is a deeply rational and serious person, and his discovery of Hyde's true identity shakes the beliefs that serve as the foundation for all he stands for. This leads to the deterioration of his health and eventual death. However, Lanyon's image remains an important aspect of the story's theme. His personality is in juxtaposition to that of Jekyll; although both are doctors, their choices and beliefs result in them following very different paths. Lanyon remains a practitioner of rational and scientific experimentation, while Jekyll practices a more supernatural and unusual form of experimentation. |