Book Boyfriends: John Gabriel Utterson

 

Alexis at Reflections of a Bookaholic posed an excellent question a few weeks ago.  She asked her readers if they had a favorite book boyfriend.  Actually I do.  Just one.  It"s the attorney Gabriel John Utterson from Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Utterson is Jekyll's friend and attorney.  He knows there is something going on with Jekyll, but he thinks Jekyll is being blackmailed by Hyde.  Utterson continually helps people who are in trouble.  He seems to genuinely like being helpful and he gets a somewhat salacious thrill hearing about the naughty predicaments people get themselves into. I think Utterson may have been in some kind of sinful trouble in the past. Utterson changed his ways, but he misses his old life.   He does have strong sense of duty.  Every Sunday he takes a walk with his relative Enfield not because he likes it, but because it is the right thing to do.  His relative Enfield stays out late at night himself. I wonder what kind of life Enfield leads.  Maybe Utterson has another reason for walking with him.  One night Enfield ran into Mr. Hyde.  Then he told Utterson about it.  Hmmm.

Why do I like Utterson?  He seems real to me.  The man is trying to live his life in what he thinks is the right way, but it's difficult sometimes.  I can relate.  In some ways we're alike.

What about you?  Do you have a crush on a fictionl character?