Similarities Between Jekyll And Hyde

The use of a third person narrator at the start added to the complexity of the plot for the reader as we were only party to the information he had at his disposal and, therefore, came to the same – misguided – conclusions as shown through ‘The Carew Murder Case’ in which Mr Utterson suspects Jekyll is sheltering a callous criminal. ‘Henry Jekyll forge for a murderer!’ And his blood ran cold in his veins.’
Through the character of Gabriel Utterson, a respected lawyer and the epitome of Victorian customs, the reader reaches the supposition that Jekyll is trying to protect his friend – despite their questionable connection – and do not consider the possibility that Jekyll and Hyde originate from the same person. Utterson’s occupation highlights to the reader that he is a person of a sane and

Although Utterson realises that misdeeds are occurring around him and that they all relate back to Edward Hyde he never once entertains the idea that there is a supernatural link to the events reflecting the views of Victorian society and their dedication to reasonable explanations. Yet, Utterson inadvertently makes suggestions to the truth that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person, when he invites Mr Guest to take a closer look at a letter he received from Jekyll which results in Mr Guest’s observation that ‘the two hands are in many points identical: only differently sloped.’ However, due to his logical mind reaches the erroneous conclusion that Jekyll is trying to preserve the life of Hyde which is then imprinted on the mind of the reader. Through the characterization of Utterson the reader can now fully explore that although Utterson was a loyal companion to Dr Jekyll, he too was guilty of acting hypocritically and – like Jekyll – going against the ethics of his profession. Throughout