Key learning points

1. Vice was common in Victorian society; the wealthy could hide it, while the poor faced harsher judgement.
2. Poorer people often turned to drinking, violence or crime, while the rich indulged in debauchery and illicit affairs.
3. The philanthropic Victorian gentleman often served as a façade to cover up the wealthy’s moral corruption.
4. Hyde symbolises Victorian moral decay, embodying Jekyll's darker impulses; he is cruel, wild and aggressive.
5. 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