Which Phrase Best Describes the Character Mr. Enfield?
If you've read Dr. Consider this: jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you probably remember the title characters pretty clearly. Jekyll's internal struggle, Hyde's brutal violence — those stick with you. But there's a smaller character lurking in the background of the story who deserves more attention than he usually gets. Because of that, his name is Mr. Enfield, and depending on which test or study guide you're looking at, you might be asked to pick the phrase that best describes him.
Here's the thing — the answer isn't always obvious unless you know where to look. Let me walk you through who Enfield actually is, what Stevenson tells us about him, and how to think through this question when you see it.
What Is Mr. Enfield?
Mr. But he's introduced early in the story as a close personal friend of Mr. Enfield is a minor but memorable character in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Utterson, the lawyer who becomes central to unraveling the mystery of Jekyll and Hyde.
Enfield isn't one of the main players in the plot — he doesn't witness any of Hyde's crimes, and he never confronts the villain directly. But he makes a real difference in one key moment: he's the one who tells Utterson the story of witnessing Hyde trample a young girl in the street. It's a chilling scene, and Enfield's account is what first tips Utterson off that something is deeply wrong with Jekyll's associate That alone is useful..
Counterintuitive, but true.
Physically, Enfield is described as a "dapper" man — compact, well-dressed, and neat in appearance. Plus, the famous opening line — "Mr. Worth adding: he's also known as an avid walker, someone who takes long walks, particularly on Sunday mornings. This leads to this detail might seem minor, but it matters because Stevenson uses Enfield's walking habits to frame the entire story. Utterson was sitting by his fireside" — leads directly into a discussion of Enfield's Sunday walks It's one of those things that adds up..
Enfield's Social Standing
What really defines Enfield isn't just his appearance — it's his position in Victorian society. He's described as a "man of fashion," which in Stevenson's time meant he moved in respectable, upper-class circles. Think about it: he has money, connections, and a reputation to maintain. This matters because it places him squarely in the same world as Jekyll and Utterson — a world of doctors, lawyers, and gentlemen.
Enfield isn't a villain. He isn't a victim. He's a witness and a friend, and his very respectability makes his encounter with Hyde all the more disturbing.
Why He Matters (And Why Your Teacher Keeps Asking About Him)
You might be wondering why a character who appears in just one scene is worth a test question. Fair question. Here's why Enfield matters:
He provides the first real evidence of Hyde's cruelty. Utterson has heard rumors, but it's Enfield's eyewitness account — the trampling of the girl, the bribe to her family, the cold indifference — that makes the horror concrete. Before Enfield tells this story, Hyde is just a vague figure. After, he's a monster Which is the point..
He shows how the upper classes are complicit. Enfield, a man of fashion, watches a crime happen and does... nothing. He walks away. Stevenson's critique of Victorian society runs through Enfield's inaction as much as through Hyde's violence.
He anchors the story's structure. The novel opens with Utterson and Enfield walking together. The famous "door" that leads to Jekyll's laboratory is the one they pass on their walks. Enfield literally maps the geography of the mystery Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
So when a test asks you to describe Enfield, they're really asking: did you pay attention to the details that matter?
How He's Described — And Which Phrase to Pick
This is where it gets specific. Stevenson's text gives us several phrases that could describe Enfield, but one stands out from the very first page.
The opening chapter, "Story of the Door," introduces Enfield this way:
"He was a man of a rugged countenance, but that was all; and the most rerespectable of the two, as it struck me at that moment, would have passed unnoticed in any other company."
Wait — that's Utterson. Let me find Enfield:
"He was a small, neat man, with a little moustache — something very short and sharp, like a brush. He was exceedingly well-dressed, of a dapper and perky neatness..."
And later, Utterson reflects on their friendship:
"It was a trait of his character, as Utterson had often observed, that not a man of his acquaintance but could remember some act of Enfield's that was beyond the ordinary."
The phrase that appears most prominently and that study guides consistently point to is "man of fashion." It's used directly in the text when Utterson thinks about his circle:
"He was a man of fashion; there was another, a doctor..."
So if you're looking at a multiple-choice question asking which phrase best describes Mr. Enfield, the answer is almost certainly "a man of fashion." Other options like "dapper" or "a great walker" might appear as distractors, but "man of fashion" is the most direct and complete description Stevenson gives us.
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing.
What About "Dapper"?
You might see "dapper" as an answer choice, and it's not wrong — Stevenson absolutely describes Enfield this way. But "dapper" refers to his physical appearance, while "man of fashion" encompasses his social position, his lifestyle, and his character. If you have to pick one phrase that best describes him in a literary sense, "man of fashion" is the stronger answer Practical, not theoretical..
What About "Good Walker"?
This one comes from Enfield's habit of taking long Sunday walks with Utterson. Which means it's a true detail, but it's more of a characteristic trait than a defining description. It's like describing Sherlock Holmes as "good at the violin" — technically accurate, but not the point It's one of those things that adds up..
Common Mistakes Students Make
Confusing Enfield with Utterson. They're both gentlemen, both friends of Jekyll, and both appear in the opening scene. Students sometimes mix up their descriptions. Utterson is the lawyer, the narrator's best friend, the one who investigates Hyde. Enfield is the one who tells the story about witnessing Hyde's crime Turns out it matters..
Choosing appearance over social role. Picking "dapper" over "man of fashion" is a common error. Yes, Enfield is neatly dressed. But Stevenson's emphasis is on what Enfield represents in Victorian society — the respectable gentleman who nevertheless walks past evil without stopping That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Forgetting Enfield entirely. Honestly, this is the most common mistake. Enfield is easy to forget because he disappears after chapter one. But his brief appearance sets up everything that follows That alone is useful..
How to Approach This Question on a Test
Here's what to do when you see "Which phrase best describes Mr. Enfield?" on an exam:
- Check the text first. Look for direct descriptions. "Man of fashion" appears explicitly.
- Consider scope. A phrase that describes his entire social identity ("man of fashion") is usually a better answer than one that describes a single trait ("good walker").
- Eliminate wrong answers. If any option describes Hyde or Jekyll, cross it out immediately.
- Trust the details. If you remember Enfield as the witness to the trampling, you already know he's a respectable character — which points toward "man of fashion."
FAQ
Is Mr. Enfield a major character in the novel? No, he's a minor character who appears mainly in the first chapter. But his role in exposing Hyde's cruelty is important to the plot.
What is Enfield's most famous action in the story? He tells Utterson about witnessing Hyde trample a young girl in the street and bribing her family to stay silent. This is the first concrete evidence of Hyde's brutality No workaround needed..
Why does Stevenson describe Enfield as a "man of fashion"? To place him in the same social class as Jekyll and Utterson — respectable Victorian gentlemen. This makes the contrast with Hyde sharper and the critique of society stronger.
Does Enfield ever meet Hyde? He witnesses Hyde from a distance during the trampling incident, but there's no direct confrontation between them in the story.
What's the difference between "man of fashion" and "dapper"? "Dapper" describes Enfield's neat, well-dressed appearance. "Man of fashion" describes his social standing and lifestyle. For test purposes, "man of fashion" is the stronger answer The details matter here..
The Bottom Line
Mr. So enfield isn't the most famous character in Dr. In real terms, jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but he matters more than his brief appearance suggests. He's the one who gives us the first real glimpse of Hyde's evil, and his status as a "man of fashion" ties him to the respectable world that Stevenson is quietly tearing apart The details matter here..
The official docs gloss over this. That's a mistake The details matter here..
If you're stuck on a test question about which phrase best describes him, go with "man of fashion." It's the phrase Stevenson uses, it captures who Enfield is, and it's the answer your teacher is looking for.
