Introduction
The novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” by Robert Louis Stevenson, is a compelling text that forces readers to follow the narrative and reflect constantly. The story is about Dr. Jekyll, who has learned to split his personality into two through experimentation. His doctor’s alter ego, Mr. Hyde, which appeared as a result of experiments, is the exact opposite of the doctor. However, in addition to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the story’s central character is Jekyll’s friend, Gabriel John Utterson. Therefore, this paper suggests what Utterson’s actions might be after the death of Dr. Jekyll.
Analysis of John Utterson’s Decision Making
Utterson’s potential actions can be analyzed from multiple perspectives. First of all, the character is a lawyer, so he would probably be involved in settling legal issues after the death of his friend. Jekyll’s lifestyle could lead to significant legal problems that would come to light after the doctor’s death (Stevenson). It includes overseeing the execution of Jekyll’s will, ensuring that his assets are distributed according to his wishes, and paying off any outstanding debts or obligations. Utterson’s professionalism and sense of duty led him to perform these duties diligently and carefully.
Furthermore, being partially connected to law enforcement agencies, Utterson can try to solve the case of his friend’s death. Although the lawyer was one of the few who knew Hyde’s secret identity, the manner of his friend’s death may raise questions (Stevenson). Therefore, the character could cooperate with the police to investigate the case and ensure that his friend’s case is solved.
Moreover, Utterson had long been interested in the mysterious Mr. Hyde, whom he treated with suspicion and fear. With Jekyll gone, Utterson’s desire to bring Hyde to justice may intensify. He could use his legal experience and connections to cooperate with law enforcement in finding and apprehending Hyde.
This desire for justice will be driven by a personal need for vindication and a sense of responsibility to society. The transformation of Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde challenged Utterson’s (Stevenson) beliefs and values. After Jekyll’s death, Utterson may ponder the consequences of his friend’s actions and the thoughts of good and evil.
Finally, Utterson might have considered it his goal to exonerate Jekyll and preserve his reputation. Evidently, the lawyer valued his friendship with the doctor very much and always wanted the best for him (Stevenson). Therefore, after Jekyll’s death, Utterson would probably try to popularize the doctor’s scientific work.
However, given the outcome, Utterson, with access to Jekyll’s papers, would likely have destroyed much of the doctor’s records of mind experiments to prevent similar situations from happening to other people. Moreover, it could contribute to shaping the narrative of Jekyll’s life and death, highlighting his contributions to science and medicine while acknowledging the tragic consequences of his experiments. Utterson would probably be the one who would seek to hide the truth about Jekyll, trying to show his friend to society in a better light.
Conclusion
In conclusion, perhaps after Jekyll’s death, Utterson might have lost a part of himself since he had deep respect and affection for his friend. These feelings might motivate a lawyer to seek justice for the doctor. It includes investigating the circumstances of his death, finding and punishing Hyde, and bringing Jekyll’s works to a broader audience. However, the death of a friend could have the opposite effect on the lawyer, and he, having dealt with Dr. Jekyll’s documents, would spend the rest of his life in philosophical reflections about good and evil.
Work Cited
Stevenson, Robert Lewis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [eBook]. The Project Gutenberg, 2023.