The action of hiding something or preventing it being known is known as concealment.

Duality refers to the contrast between two opposite or opposing things.

Morality concerns the distinction between what is right and what is wrong.

If you criticise something in a thoughtful and detailed way this is known as a critique.

The differences between classes is known as the social divide. In 'Jekyll and Hyde' Utterson is a member of the midde class.

Understanding Utterson and social class in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

English

In 'Jekyll and Hyde: the Divided City', pupils explore how the city of London is used as a symbol of Jekyll's duplicitous life. In 'Jekyll & Hyde: Society as the Villain', pupils critically analyse the role the Victorian patriarchy and the class system plays in Jekyll's demise.

In this unit, pupils explore how the society the characters of 'Jekyll and Hyde' inhabit affects their interpretation of them. They first look at structure and the Gothic, before thinking carefully about how to use context. They then look at hypocrisy and write an essay about it in the novella.

Nineteenth century text: second deep dive

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

To what part of London does Utterson travel to in chapter 4 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?

What technique has been used here in the description of the weather: "the wind was continually charging and routing these embattled vapours"?

That it is strange someone like Hyde should live here.

That Jekyll must visit this place often if Hyde lives here.

That Hyde must be a very disreputable character to live in a place like this.

That Jekyll enjoys visiting the area very much.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Jekyll describes Soho as 'the home of Jekyll's favourite'. What is he suggesting with this phrase?

They would have had a similarly negative and unsympathetic view.

They would have had a much more positive view, unlike Utterson's.

They would have found his view repulsive, believing charity to be important.

Consider 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', in what ways would Utterson's views towards the poor be shared by the Victorian middle classes of the day?

He's supportive - he thinks the poor should be judged in this way.

He's indifferent - as a writer of novellas he takes little interest in society.

He's critical - he thinks such views are hypocritical and misguided.

He's encouraging - he believes its the role of the middle classes to criticise.

Consider 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', how does Stevenson view people like Utterson and their views of the poor?

"Stevenson is implicitly critical of Utterson’s attitude towards the poor people of Soho in this extract." What is this an example of?

What is Utterson's profession in the novella 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Utterson arguably has a repressive nature. What two things does he deny himself, despite enjoying them?

The first 8 chapters of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' are narrated through the perspective of Utterson alone? As such, this is an example of... 

In our opening description of Utterson in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', we learn that he subscribes to 'Cain's...'?

To criticise something in a thoughtful and detailed way.

To criticise something in an insulting and off-hand way.

To criticise something rarely and only when necessary.

What is the definition of the word 'critique'? Here it is used in a sentence: 'The piece of art received its critique from the gallery owner'.

The distinction between what is right and what is wrong.

The distinction between what is hard and what is easy.

The distinction between what is fair and what is unfair.

The distinction between what is realistic and what is foolish.

What is the definition of the word 'morality'? Here it is used in a sentence : "The preacher spoke about the importance of morality."

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Understanding Utterson and social class in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.