Mr. Enfield

Character Analysis

(Click the character infographic to download.)

Enfield in the Outfield

Mr. Enfield is yet another ideal gentleman of the Victorian age—he has a strong sense of morals and good manners and wears a lot of heavy wool clothing, even in August. But, although he kicks off the novel, he plays a relatively minor role.

We see him twice in the text, both times on his usual Sunday afternoon walk with his distant relative and friend, Mr. Utterson. Also, on both walks they pass by the curious door that prompts Mr. Enfield to tell the "story of the door." Sounds like this character is here to serve one purpose and one purpose only: exposition.

Mr. Enfield’s one other notable characteristic is a severe lack of curiosity regarding the unusual. He seems to be okay with weird men that "trample" small children, as long as they pay up afterwards. In the classic "foil" sense, of course, Mr. Enfield’s lack of curiosity comments on Mr. Utterson’s extreme curiosity (see our "Character Roles" section for more on this).