We learn most of Dr. Jekyll's story from Mr Utterson. Why do you think Stevenson created the character of Mr Utterson as the main narrator?

        Another of Utterson’s assets was that he was a very good listener. He was a man who could be trusted and he was tolerant to hear what people had to say. This fits his part as he found out many of the peoples secrets. We are told this when the book says ‘he had an approved tolerance for others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved the their misdeeds; and in any extremity inclined to help rather than to reprove’ ‘it was frequently his fortune to be the last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of down-going men’.  This shows us his ability to listen but also shows us that he is willing to help people with their problems.

        As Utterson has had a long lasting friendship with Jekyll, Lanyon and Enfield, they confide in Utterson which means Utterson can link their stories together to discover the mystery. Jekyll and Lanyon are both doctors so Utterson can go to Lanyon about the drugs that Jekyll seems to be craving. The butler Poole also knows Utterson because of the years of friendship which means that when Poole is worried about Jekyll and Hyde, Utterson is the first person that Poole thinks of to turn to.

        As a lawyer Utterson has the ability to access private documents and allows him to look at Jekyll’s will. We know that Utterson had not liked the will since the day he had got it because it says ‘this document had long been the lawyer’s eyesore’. This is one of the main sources which encourages Utterson to become curious about Jekyll and Hyde. Utterson is also worried about what might be happening to his friend Jekyll which drives him to figure out what is happening in the case. We know that Utterson wants to help his friend Jekyll out of the mess that he is in because he thinks to himself ‘Poor Harry Jekyll’ ‘I must put my shoulder to the wheel’.

        Utterson has a very good link to the Carew murder case because of the letter that was in Carew's pocket. This gets Utterson back into being interested into the strange happenings which involve Mr Hyde.

        Utterson is a dry, unemotional and trustworthy character in the book. He makes a good contrast to Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll. This all helps us to believe the bizarre and remarkable events which take place in the book.