Understanding Utterson and social class in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

Social divide is a key idea here, highlighted because the reader sees Soho through the middle class eyes of Utterson. Utterson is portrayed as judgemental towards the poor, mirroring commonplace Victorian beliefs. Stevenson criticises the idea that only the poor are prone to sin and vice: the middle class characters harbour secrets. The description of Soho links to the theme of duality, showing that the city is as divided as Jekyll is. Concealment is an important theme here as Utterson confronts a side of London that middle class men don't usually see.