'Jekyll and Hyde': moral decay and respectability
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse how Stevenson's depictions of Hyde convey the impact of Industrial Revolution on Victorian behaviour.
Key learning points
- Vice was common in Victorian society; the wealthy could hide it, while the poor faced harsher judgement.
- Poorer people often turned to drinking, violence or crime, while the rich indulged in debauchery and illicit affairs.
- The philanthropic Victorian gentleman often served as a façade to cover up the wealthy’s moral corruption.
- Hyde symbolises Victorian moral decay, embodying Jekyll's darker impulses; he is cruel, wild and aggressive.
- Utterson's refusal to confront Jekyll about Hyde can also be seen as an example of moral decay.
Keywords
Façade - deceptive outward appearance that hides the true nature of someone or something
Debauchery - excessive indulgence in sensory pleasures, often associated with immoral or corrupt behaviour
Vice - a moral fault or weakness leading to immoral or unethical behaviour and choices
Impulses - sudden urges or desires to act, often without forethought or consideration of consequences
Moral decay - the decline of ethical standards and values within a society or individual
Common misconception
Immoral behaviour was something only the lower classes engaged in.
Immoral behaviour was something that crossed class boundaries but it manifested differently; for the lower classes, vice was survival-based with many turning to crime to survive whereas the wealthy engaged in debauchery and illicit affairs.
Teacher tip
After feeding back on Task B, you may wish to expand the debate, considering how moral or immoral all of the characters in the novella are. For example, the woman who answers Hyde's door, Enfield or Lanyon.
Equipment
You will need access to specific extracts from 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson. You can find the extracts in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes the working class in Victorian society?
Q2.How did Victorian morality influence societal expectations?
Q3.What was a common living condition for the working class in Victorian cities?
Q4.Who is Mr. Utterson in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q5.How does Utterson feel about Mr. Hyde in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q6.What is the name of the man Hyde viciously murders in the street in Chapter 4 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does 'vice' mean in the context of morality?
Q2.How did poorer people often cope with their circumstances in Victorian society?
Q3.Complete this sentence: 'The figure of the philanthropic Victorian was ...
Q4.In the 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Hyde symbolises Victorian , embodying Jekyll’s darker impulses; he is cruel, wild and aggressive.
Q5.What could Utterson’s reluctance to confront Jekyll represent in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q6.Complete this sentence about 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde': 'Stevenson depicts Carew as civilised and dignified, highlighting his __________ and high status.'
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': moral decay and respectability, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': moral decay and respectability, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the 'Jekyll & Hyde': the dark side of the Industrial Revolution unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.