Robert Louis Stevenson published his novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in 1886. It follows the life of the lawyer Gabriel Utterson, who investigates strange events surrounding his friend, Dr Henry Jekyll. It was written during the Victorian era, when reputation, morality, and self-control were highly valued. This time also saw an explosion in scientific discoveries and in how people understand the world. Some were excited by advances in medicine and psychology, while others feared the overreach of science. These anxieties are explored in Stevenson's novel through the split between the respectable Dr Jekyll and his transformation into Hyde, a violent criminal.
Characters in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel explore key themes, including good vs evil, secrecy, duality, and human nature. They build mystery and tension and critique the strictures of Victorian England.
In this article, we learn about the characters, major and supporting, including Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde, Mr Utterson, Dr Lanyon, and Mr Enfield. Plot examples and key quotes are provided for each character. It is suitable for GCSE English Literature revision for all major exam boards, including AQA.
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Dr Henry Jekyll
Dr Henry Jekyll is a respected doctor living in London. He is admired by his friend Utterson and others for being professional and generous. However, we gradually suspect that Jekyll is hiding a secret related to his scientific experiments.
Jekyll believes everyone has the capacity for good and evil. He is obsessed with splitting these parts of his personality through science. This experimentation leads to the creation of Mr Hyde, who is violent and immoral. He allows Jekyll to explore his dark, hidden urges without affecting his social standing.
Initially, Utterson is worried that Mr Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll when he writes a cheque to a young girl's family, whom Mr Hyde deliberately tramples. This concern deepens when Jekyll changes his will to make Hyde the sole beneficiary in the event of his death or disappearance. Jekyll's attempts to protect Hyde create mystery around their relationship, which Jekyll tries to disappear by claiming he can "be rid of Mr Hyde" if he chooses.
Hyde's crimes become more violent. He beats Sir Danvers Carew to death with a cane, one of Utterson's clients. At the same time, Jekyll's mental state appears disturbed, and he abandons his scientific experiments. However, against his will, Jekyll continues transforming into Hyde without taking the potion. This shows his evil nature is taking over his good, public-facing personality. Jekyll is ultimately unable to escape Hyde's control and writes a full account of events before concluding that Hyde will need to decide whether to face execution or commit suicide.
In the quote below, Jekyll reflects that all humans have contrasting sides to their personalities. His experiments try to separate these parts, but Stevenson's novella suggests this is impossible.
"Man is not truly one, but truly two."
He admits that he hid his immoral desires, which reflects the pressure placed on Victorian gentlemen to always appear moral and respectable. The author critiques the consequences of repressing natural desires:
"I concealed my pleasures."
Jekyll acknowledges he has lost to Hyde at the end of the story, despite seeing himself as the "better self". His downfall is a warning about the dangers of unchecked ambition, repression, and the misuse of science:
"I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self."
Mr Edward Hyde
Mr Edward Hyde is Dr Jekyll's sinister and malevolent alter ego. He is presented as disturbing, unnatural, and completely unrestrained from the expectations of Victorian society. Other characters struggle to voice what's wrong with Hyde, but they feel fear and disgust in his presence. He represents hidden evil and the dangers of suppressing natural desires.
He is introduced during Utterson's weekly walk with his cousin Enfield, who recounts Hyde trampling a young girl for no reason. Enfield describes him as showing no remorse, indulging in destructive urges without compassion:
"Like some damned Juggernaut."
He is smaller than Dr Jekyll, yet more violent and energetic. The implication is that Jekyll has repressed his evil side for most of his life, causing it to explode outwards when he splits his personality. He is described as animalistic and less civilised than other people, such as having an "ape-like fury". Utterson calls him primitive, reflecting Victorian fears about degeneration and the ideas that humanity could devolve to a more savage state:
"Something troglodytic."
Hyde is always shown to act without guilt or restraint. He visits the murky, secretive parts of London, lives separately from Jekyll, and behaves in ways that would destroy Jekyll's reputation. We gradually realise that Hyde is not a separate person, but a physical and mental embodiment of the evil already present inside Dr Jekyll.
Jekyll starts to lose control over Hyde as he grows stronger. The transformations happen naturally, showing that Jekyll's personality is being infected with evil. Ultimately, Hyde's existence leads to destruction, isolation, and death.
Mr Gabriel John Utterson
Mr Gabriel Utterson is a lawyer and a close friend of Dr Jekyll. He is sensible and rational, with the story unfolding through his perspective. His calm and logical nature contrasts with the violence and secrecy that pervade the novel.
Utterston is introduced as serious and reserved. He cares deeply for his friends and tries to help Jekyll on multiple occasions, even if he appears cold. He is described as compassionate and dependable, representing the societal values of friendship, professionalism, and self-control:
"The last good influence in the lives of down-going men."
He is suspicious after reading Jekyll's revised will, which makes Hyde the sole beneficiary if Jekyll dies or disappears. Utterson is worried that Hyde may be blackmailing his friends, and decides to investigate. The quote below shows his determination and his role as a detective. Stevenson builds suspense throughout the novella as Utterson slowly pieces together the clues about Hyde and his relationship with Jekyll:
"If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek."
He avoids encroaching too much on the privacy of others in his investigation, following the Victorian attitude that personal matters are private. He reflects that he will be tolerant of confrontation, even if something is wrong. In the quote below, his "brother" refers to his friend Jekywll:
"I let my brother go to the devil in his own way."
Jekyll's behaviour becomes increasingly alarming as he isolates himself and acts oddly in the aftermath of Hyde's crimes. Jekyll's butler, Poole, asks Utterson for help after hearing strange noises from his master's laboratory. They break down the door to find the truth about Hyde's identity and his lifeless body.
Utterson is presented as a foil to Jekyll and Hyde, showing the importance of balance, self-control and moral responsibility. His investigation drives the mystery and tension in the plot.
Dr Hastie Lanyon
Dr Hastie Lanyon is a respected doctor. He is intelligent, rational, and strongly committed to traditional science. Layon believes science should be logical and focus on proven facts. His reactions as a scientist help underscore how shocking and unnatural Jekyll's investigations are.
Lanyon used to be a colleague and friend of Dr Jekyll. Their relationship becomes strained, and they fall out due to differing scientific views. Jekyll becomes interested in strange scientific ideas that Lanyon considers dangerous. He dismisses Jekyll's work, a rejection of experimentation that goes beyond the accepted realms of science. This underscores the Victorian concerns about rapid scientific developments and the fears it could have on religion, morality, and nature:
"Unscientific balderdash."
Jekyll isolates himself when Hyde murders the elderly Sir Danvers Carew. Lanyon receives a mysterious letter asking him to collect chemicals and equipment from Jekyll's laboratory. Lanyon agrees to help. Later that night, Hyde arrives at Lanyon's house, drinking the potion to transform back into Dr Jekyll.
Witnessing the supernatural destroys Lanyon's understanding of reality. He realises that Jekyll and Hyde are one, breaking him physically and mentally. The word "sickened" shows how disturbed he is by what he witnesses, reinforcing that the transformation is deeply unnatural:
"My soul sickened at it."
Lanyon falls ill and refuses to speak to Jekyll. He eventually dies from shock. The consequences of Jekyll's experiments on their relationship are underscored by the quote below:
"I wish to see or hear no more of Dr Jekyll."
Mr Richard Enfield
Mr Richard Enfield is Utterson's light-hearted cousin and friend. He introduces the mystery surrounding Mr Hyde as he goes for his regular Sunday walk with Utterson through London. He points out a strange, neglected door connected to Hyde and recounts the events of the previous night. He saw Hyde trample a young girl for no reason, walking on as though nothing had happened. Enfield is horrified, with the word "hellish" emphasising Hyde's disturbing actions:
"It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see."
Enfield avoids asking too many questions of Hyde. This reflects Victorian attitudes towards privacy and reputation. In the quote below, "Queer Street" refers to suspicious or disgraceful situations. He prioritises his reputation and social respectability over investigating the events and possibly uncovering uncomfortable truths to avoid public shame:
"The more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask."
Enfield starts to see changes in Jekyll's behaviour as the story continues. They briefly see Jekyll at a window, looking pale and distressed. He suddenly disappears from view. This event heightens the mystery surrounding his well-being, which, in retrospect, shows he is losing control over his dual identity.
Minor Characters
Poole
Poole is Dr Jekyll’s butler. He is shown as trustworthy and observant, an ordinary Victorian servant who has served Jekyll faithfully for years. He becomes increasingly worried about the well-being of his employer, and is convinced that something awful has happened in Jekyll's laboratory.
Poole notices strange behaviour behind Jekyll's laboratory door after he begins to isolate himself. There is a figure inside who won't show itself, speaks in an unfamiliar voice, and demands chemicals. The butler asks Utterson for help, fearful that Jekyll has been murdered.
His description of the figure in the laboratory shows that Hyde appears unnatural and frightening. It also implies that Poole can no longer recognise the person hiding inside as Dr Jekyll:
"That thing was not my master."
Poole's observations about the figure in the laboratory lead him and Utterson to break down the laboratory door. They discover Hyde's body after he has drunk poison, and the truth of Jekyll's scientific experiments and transformations.
Poole also claims that he briefly saw the figure moving through the laboratory and noticed that it looked physically different from Jekyll. His observations help convince Utterson that something is seriously wrong. Eventually, Poole and Utterson break down the laboratory door together and discover Hyde’s body after he takes poison.
Sir Danvers Carew
Carew is a Member of Parliament. He is elderly, kind, and innocent, representing Victorian respectability. He appears briefly, yet his murder is a crucial moment as it reflects Hyde's uncontrollable violence.
Carew is described as a peaceful, harmless man. His gentle appearance contrasts with the savage behaviour Hyde displays when attacking him, heightening the shock:
"An aged and beautiful gentleman with white hair."
A maid witnesses the attack on Carew, which came without warning. Hyde beats him violently with a cane and flees the scene. Half a broken cane is left behind, and the other half is found, which Utterson recognises as belonging to Jekyll.
The murder causes public outrage as Carew was a respected figure. It transforms Hyde into a hunted murderer and reinforces to Jekyll that he can no longer escape his darker side, as he is unable to stop his transformations.
Stevenson uses Carew to reflect the values of Victorian society. His death implies that evil threatens the stability and morality of society.
Inspector Newcomen
Inspector Newcomen is charged with investigating the murder of Carew. He introduces elements of detective fiction into the novella and reflects the attempts of Victorian society to restore order.
Utterson takes Newcomen to Hyde's house in Soho. The area is dark, dirty, and suspicious. They find evidence in Hyde's rooms that links him to the crime. This includes the broken cane he used to murder Carew.
He is portrayed as professional and thorough. He doesn't solve the mystery, but his presence puts pressure on Jekyll and Hyde. The investigation also creates suspense for the reader, as Hyde disappears before he can be arrested:
"You may depend upon it, sir: I have him in my hand. He must have lost his head, or he never would have left the stick or, above all, burned the cheque book. Why, money's life to the man. We have nothing to do but wait for him at the bank, and get out the handbills."
The Maid
The maid appears briefly when she witnesses the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, one of the most violent scenes in the novella.
She watches Hyde meeting Carew peacefully in the street from her vantage point at the window. He suddenly attacks Carew in rage. The use of the word "flame" in her description of Hyde implies explosive force. His danger is immediate and uncontrolled, representing humanity's savage instincts:
"Suddenly broke out in a great flame of anger."
The ferocious attack left Carew "hailing down a storm of blows". This violent imagery intends to shock the characters and the reader, showing how dangerous Hyde has become. The maid faints from horror after witnessing the attack, making the scene more dramatic and emotional.
Mr Guest
Mr Guest is Utterson’s head clerk and confidant. He's a minor but pivotal character who appears briefly. Guest is presented as intelligent and skilled in analysing handwriting.
Jekyll gives Utterson a letter from Hyde. Guest analyses the handwriting and notices similarities between Hyde's writing and Jekyll's. His conclusion is one of the earliest suggestions that there is a close connection between the two:
"There’s a rather singular resemblance."
Guest is logical and careful. He tackles problems rationally without emotion or superstition. Stevenson uses his character to slowly reveal clues that heighten the mystery and intrigue.
Conclusion - Characters in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde characters allow Stevenson to explore duality, morality, science, and to critique Victorian society. The outwardly respectable Jekyll is contrasted with his dual identity, the animalistic, savage Mr Hyde. Stevenson implies that everyone has good and evil within them, warning against repressing natural urges and the dangers of unchecked ambition and secrecy.
Supporting characters are used to highlight different aspects of Victorian life and introduce elements of detective fiction, uncovering items and events that slowly reveal the mystery of Jekyll's experiments. The reactions to these experiments help to reinforce the extreme nature of Jekyll's transformations and how far he has pushed the acceptable boundaries of science.
For further reading, you can learn more about the historical context of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by AC Studies. You can also revise this exhaustive list of quotes to memorise for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Physics and Maths Tutor.
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