Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde: Mr Richard Enfield Character Analysis (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Note

Although Enfield is a relatively minor character and is always accompanied by Utterson, he drives the narrative of the novella by informing Utterson about Hyde’s conduct.

Mr Richard Enfield character summary

Why is Mr Richard Enfield important?

 Enfield drives the narrative forward as his account of Hyde instigates Utterson’s inquiries. He is depicted as:

• Amiable: Enfield is described as a “distant kinsman” to Utterson and both men are well known in London. Stevenson indicates how “It was a nut to crack for many” to understand Utterson and Enfield’s friendship as they have little in common. Despite this, both men enjoy regular Sunday walks together. During one such occasion, Enfield sparks Utterson’s interest in Hyde when he tells him “The Story of the Door”. In the “Incident at the Window”, both Utterson and Enfield offer advice and help, urging Jekyll to join them on their walk to improve his health.

• Respected: Enfield, like Utterson, values the importance of a good reputation, typical of a gentleman in Victorian society. Although he could be viewed as being largely indifferent to Hyde’s violence throughout the novella, he does pursue Hyde when he trampled the child and ensures the family receive compensation. However, Enfield’s integrity could also be questioned when he recounts to Utterson that “from some place at the end of the world, about three o’clock of a black winter morning” he witnessed this incident. This may prompt the reader to question why Enfield would be in an undesirable area at such a late hour.

Mr Richard Enfield’s use of language

• Reserved tone: Enfield’s language is deliberately restrained, reflecting his position as a gentleman who embodies the Victorian ideal of protecting one’s reputation. For example, when Utterson asks Enfield whether he made further enquiries about what happened after the incident with Hyde in Chapter 1, Enfield says that he makes it “a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask”. Although he occasionally engages in gossip, he criticises his tendency to do so and informs Utterson that he will no longer engage in this activity stating, “I am ashamed of my long tongue. Let us make a bargain never to refer to this again”.

• Informal and conversational: Enfield's use of informal, colloquial and sometimes humorous language contrasts to that of Utterson’s more serious demeanour. While his language reflects his amiable and friendly nature, it could also perhaps signify his superficiality and his inability to engage with the more sinister aspects of human nature.

Mr Richard Enfield key quotes

Mr Richard Enfield character symbolism

Although Enfield seeks compensation for an innocent child’s family (after witnessing Hyde trampling a child) he does not pursue Hyde any further. His character therefore could be viewed as symbolic of the hypocrisy of Victorian society which believed in preserving respectability and appearances rather than confronting more deeper and sinister issues which may have been lurking underneath. Stevenson also juxtaposes Enfield’s passive nature with Utterson who actively pursues Hyde in order to uncover the truth.

Mr Richard Enfield character interpretation

Morally dubious

Stevenson uses the character of Enfield to convey the theme of duality. While Enfield has all of the appearance of a respectable Victorian gentleman, there are hints about his secretive and perhaps deceitful nature. While Victorian society strongly adhered to conventions of behaviour and etiquette, these expected behaviours could be subject to enormous hypocrisy, as gentlemen could keep up the appearance of respectability but act quite differently in secret.