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Year 11 - English

'Jekyll and Hyde': moral decay and respectability

'Jekyll & Hyde': the dark side of the Industrial Revolution

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils explore 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' within the context of the Industrial Revolution. They first look at the importane of technology and industrialisation within the period and novella, before looking at the social consequences and implications of the Industrial Revolution.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to analyse how Stevenson's depictions of Hyde convey the impact of Industrial Revolution on Victorian behaviour.

Key Notes

  • 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.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • 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 Mistakes To Avoid

  • Immoral behaviour was something only the lower classes engaged in.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key 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.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'façade'

deceptive outward appearance that hides the true nature of someone or something.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Immoral behaviour was something only the lower classes engaged in. Correction: 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.

More Lessons In This Unit

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