Starter quiz
- Which of the following best describes the working class in Victorian society?
- wealthy landowners
- factory workers with low wages ✓
- highly educated professionals
- philanthropic businessmen
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- How did Victorian morality influence societal expectations?
- encouraged open discussions about personal desires
- promoted strict moral codes and respectability ✓
- supported the idea of individualism
- discouraged philanthropy and charity
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- What was a common living condition for the working class in Victorian cities?
- spacious suburban homes
- clean but crowded apartments
- overcrowded and unsanitary housing ✓
- rural farmhouses
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- Who is Mr. Utterson in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
- Dr. Jekyll's lawyer and friend ✓
- a doctor and colleague of Dr. Jekyll
- an ex-police detective
- someone who knew Mr. Hyde as a child
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- How does Utterson feel about Mr. Hyde in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
- he trusts him completely
- he is indifferent to him
- he admires him
- he is suspicious and disturbed ✓
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- 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'?
- Mr. Utterson
- Sir Danvers Carew ✓
- Dr. Jekyll
- Dr. Lanyon
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Exit quiz
- What does 'vice' mean in the context of morality?
- a lawful act
- strong personal values
- public service
- immoral or wicked behaviour ✓
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- How did poorer people often cope with their circumstances in Victorian society?
- by engaging in charitable work
- by turning to heavy drinking and petty crime ✓
- by investing in education
- by forming community support groups
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- Complete this sentence: 'The figure of the philanthropic Victorian was ...
- a genuine advocate for the poor and oppressed.'
- often a façade to mask their own moral failings.' ✓
- an important leader in the Industrial Revolution.'
- frequently a champion of progressive social reform.'
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- In the 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Hyde symbolises Victorian ______, embodying Jekyll’s darker impulses; he is cruel, wild and aggressive.
- 'moral decay' ✓
- What could Utterson’s reluctance to confront Jekyll represent in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
- an example of moral decay ✓
- a lack of community spirit
- the strength of their friendship
- acceptance of his actions
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- 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.'
- age
- jealousy
- respectability ✓
- violent tendencies
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Lesson Details
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.
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.
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
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