Themes - Friendship Flashcards
What are uttersons friendships founded on
Similar catholicity of good nature
Mr. Utterson is a steadfast friend, even when his friends are social outcasts or crimina
In this character, it was frequently his fortune to be … the last good influence on the lives of downgoing men
The loss of friendship is a serious threat in Victorian society.
If he had any friends or any credit, we undertook that he should lose them
When they tell Hyde to pay
Dr Lanyon and Mr Utterson have a strong friendship
The geniality, as was the way of the man, was somewhat theatrical to the eye; but it reposed on genuine feeling
Dr. Lanyon and Dr. Jekyll are estranged because they disagree over science.
He began to go wrong, wrong in mind; and though of course I continue to take an interest in him for old sake’s sake
This suggests an initial frailty to their friendship in contrast to the strength of Lanyon and Utterson’s relationship.
But could it have in reality strengthened their relationship - made it stronger because Jekyll shows LanyonHyde first
Mr. Utterson is considerate, but never abandons his objectives.
He gave his friend a few seconds to recover his composure, and then approached the question he had come to put
Utterson, rather than see Hyde as a friend of Jekyll’s immediately thinks he is a threat
How much he cares for him? Or the stance of Victorian society?
Poor Harry Jekyll … Ghost of some old sin
Rather than believe that Dr. Jekyll is in fact friends with Mr. Hyde, Mr. Utterson’s first conclusion is that Mr. Hyde has some sort of control over Dr. Jekyll. This interpretation is most likely colored by their friendship.
Or else he would see a room in a rich house, where his friend lay asleep, dreaming and smiling at his dreams; and then the door of that room would be opened, the curtains of the bed plucked apart, the sleeper recalled, and lo! there would stand by his side a figure to whom power was given, and even at that dead hour, he must rise and do its bidding. (2.13)
His friend’s hypothetical situation prompts Mr. Utterson to examine whether he might have traveled down a similar path.
And the lawyer, scared by the thought, brooded awhile on his own past, groping in all the corners of memory, least by chance some Jack-in-the-Box of an old iniquity should leap to light there. (2.50)
Dr. Jekyll is friends with only men of good standing, intelligence, and solid judgment of wine. He seems to have assimilated Victorian standards.
A fortnight later, by excellent good fortune, the doctor gave one of his pleasant dinners to some five or six old cronies, all intelligent, reputable men and all judges of good wine; and Mr. Utterson so contrived that he remained behind after the others had departed. This was no new arrangement, but a thing that had befallen many scores of times. (3.1)
Dr. Jekyll has warm feelings of friendship for Mr. Utterson.
To this rule, Dr. Jekyll was no exception; and as he now sat on the opposite side of the fire—a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a stylish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness—you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection. (3.1)
Mr. Utterson will not back down if he believes he is acting in his friend’s best interests.
A close observer might have gathered that the topic was distasteful; but the doctor carried it off gaily. “My poor Utterson,” said he, “you are unfortunate in such a client. I never saw a man so distressed as you were by my will; unless it were that hide-bound pedant, Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies. O, I know he’s a good fellow—you needn’t frown—an excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant. I was never more disappointed in any man than Lanyon.”
“You know I never approved of it,” pursued Utterson, ruthlessly disregarding the fresh topic.
“My will? Yes, certainly, I know that,” said the doctor, a trifle sharply. “You have told me so.” (3.3)
Mr. Utterson offers his unconditional help to Dr. Jekyll; Dr. Jekyll says he trusts Mr. Utterson unequivocally, but refuses the offer.
“Jekyll,” said Utterson, “you know me: I am a man to be trusted. Make a clean breast of this in confidence; and I make no doubt I can get you out of it.”
“My good Utterson,” said the doctor, “this is very good of you, this is downright good of you, and I cannot find words to thank you in. I believe you fully; I would trust you before any man alive, ay, before myself, if I could make the choice; but indeed it isn’t what you fancy; it is not as bad as that; and just to put your good heart at rest, I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde. I give you my hand upon that; and I thank you again and again; and I will just add one little word, Utterson, that I’m sure you’ll take in good part: this is a private matter, and I beg of you to let it sleep.” (3.10)
Mr. Utterson’s friendships help him obtain crucial information regarding the mysterious Jekyll/Hyde connection. This is how friendship drives the plot forward.
A purse and gold watch were found upon the victim: but no cards or papers, except a sealed and stamped envelope, which he had been probably carrying to the post, and which bore the name and address of Mr. Utterson.
This was brought to the lawyer the next morning, before he was out of bed; and he had no sooner seen it and been told the circumstances, than he shot out a solemn lip. (4.2)
In other words, Mr. Hyde doesn’t have any friends. His isolation is a consequence of his evil nature.
This last, however, was not so easy of accomplishment; for Mr. Hyde had numbered few familiars—even the master of the servant maid had only seen him twice; his family could nowhere be traced; he had never been photographed; and the few who could describe him differed widely, as common observers will. Only on one point were they agreed; and that was the haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders. (4.18)