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Hypocrisy in 'Jekyll and Hyde': the role of Utterson

I can explore the hypocrisy of the character of Utterson throughout ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.

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Year 11
Eduqas

Hypocrisy in 'Jekyll and Hyde': the role of Utterson

I can explore the hypocrisy of the character of Utterson throughout ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The first 8 chapters are focalised through Utterson, highlighting the tension between his curiosity and wilful ignorance
  2. The word 'Case' in the title links to Utterson's legal profession, yet he is more concerned with reputation than justice
  3. Stevenson makes us question whether Utterson remains friends with 'downgoing' men out of loyalty or repressed desires
  4. Chapter 2 is key to understanding Utterson, as he is driven by curiosity to pursue Hyde as 'Mr Seek'
  5. Chapters 1 and 7 are significant as Utterson chooses to ignore the signs of Jekyll's distress to protect his reputation

Keywords

  • Focalised - Focalised refers to the perspective from which the story is told. In 'Jekyll & Hyde' the first 8 chapters are focalised through Utterson.

  • Third person limited - A third-person limited narrative structure is where a story is told from the perspective of one protagonist. We only see their thoughts.

  • Repression - Repression refers to the restraint, prevention or inhibition of a feeling or quality.

  • Justice - Justice concerns just behaviour or treatment.

  • Loyalty - If you are showing a strong feeling of support or allegiance then you are showing loyalty

Common misconception

Mr. Utterson is an example of a respectable, Victorian gentleman.

The reality is more complex. Utterson seems more concerned with protecting the reputation of Jekyll than pursuing any real justice.

There are lots of examples of Utterson's wilful ignorance. Pay particular attention to what he says and does in Chapter 1 and Chapter 7.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is Mr. Utterson's profession in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct Answer: Lawyer, lawyer, Lawyer., lawyer.
Q2.
In relation to 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', complete this quote from Mr. Utterson: ''If he be Mr. Hyde,” he had thought, “I shall be Mr. ."
Correct Answer: seek,
Q3.
Which of the words below could be used to describe Mr. Utterson in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct answer: Rational
Correct answer: Curious
Correct answer: Respectable
Dangerous
Reckless
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr. Utterson discovers that Jekyll's will leaves his entire fortune to Mr. Hyde. When he discovers this, Mr. Utterson is...
Correct answer: alarmed, suspecting foul-play on the part of Hyde.
unbothered, seeing wills like this everyday.
satisfied, that Jekyll is planning his estate in this way.
suspicious, suspecting fraud of some kind.
Q5.
What is the correct definition of 'justice'. Here it is used in a sentence: 'The judge delivered a verdict that upheld justice for the victim.'
Correct answer: Fairness in the way people are dealt with.
Equality in the way people are dealt with.
Impartiality in the way people are dealt with.
Generosity in the way people are dealt with.
Q6.
What is the appropriate definition of the word 'repression'? Here it is used in a sentence: "The repression of free speech is a concerning trend in some countries."
Correct answer: The restraint, prevention, or inhibition of a feeling or quality.
The promotion, encouragement, or adoption of a feeling or quality.
The indifference, coldness, or distance towards a feeling of quality.
The desire, need or want for a feeling of quality.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What narrative perspective are the first 8 chapters of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' written in?
Correct answer: Third-person limited.
Third-person omniscient.
First-person.
Second-person.
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the fact that Utterson denies himself wine and the theatre - both things he enjoys - hints at his...
Correct answer: repressive nature.
secretive nature.
loyal nature.
judgemental nature.
Q3.
In Chapter 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Utterson says that he inclines to 'Cain's heresy'. What does he mean by this?
Correct answer: Like Cain, he doesn't believe in knowing the private doings of others.
Like Cain, he is fiercely protective of his close friends.
Like Cain, he is overly concerned with reputation.
Like Cain, he is curious about uncovering the truth.
Q4.
Which of the below are examples of where Utterson is arguably "wilfully ignorant" in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct answer: When he doesn't open the letters early.
When he pursues Hyde through London.
Correct answer: When he ignores the similarity between Jekyll and Hyde's handwriting.
Correct answer: When he ignores Jekyll's unethical scientific practices.
When he gossips with Enfield at the start of the novella.
Q5.
In Chapter 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Enfield uses a metaphor to describe how reputations can be easily affected. What metaphor does he use?
Correct Answer: rolling stone, stone, a rolling stone, the rolling stone
Q6.
Which of the below statements best describes how Utterson sees the reputations of his friends in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct answer: Something to be protected at all costs, even if it means concealing something.
Something important, but not as important as the law.
Something unimportant, people deserve the reputations they receive.
Something important, but not something he is directly responsible for.