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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde': exploring the duplicity of the upper class characters

I can use context to explain the complicity of other characters in the actions of Hyde.

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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde': exploring the duplicity of the upper class characters

I can use context to explain the complicity of other characters in the actions of Hyde.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Whilst Jekyll is clearly culpable for the creation of Hyde, arguably others are complicit in his crimes.
  2. Dr. Lanyon learns the truth but chooses not to expose Jekyll.
  3. Utterson fails to take opportunities to unearth the truth, instead choosing to keep secrets sealed away.
  4. Through Enfield, and other characters, Stevenson is critical of the hypocrisy of the upper-middle classes.

Keywords

  • Complicit - involvement in wrongdoing or playing a part in a questionable act

  • Duplicitous - being deceptive and lacking in honesty

  • Hypocrisy - pretending to be what one is not; saying one thing, doing another

  • To indulge - allow oneself to enjoy or have something pleasurable

  • Analogy - showing similarities to explain an idea

Common misconception

Jekyll is the only character responsible for the crimes of Hyde.

A more nuanced understanding of the text explores the complicity of other characters and the decisions they make.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': exploring the duplicity of the upper class characters, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You could divide the three men between the class so each of them are discussed in the final debate. Criticising Lanyon is probably the least challenging, whereas claiming Enfield is most complicit is perhaps the most difficult. Use the characters to differentiate the debate.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

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

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr. is our trusted narrator.
Correct Answer: Utterson
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr. Utterson was a ...
doctor
scientist
Correct answer: lawyer
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', some of the characters could be described as hypocrites. What does this mean?
someone who is always honest and true to themselves
Correct answer: pretends to be what they're not; says one thing, does another
a person who always changes opinions; inconsistent in all actions.
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why does Utterson not open the letter addressed to him straight away?
Correct answer: He was afraid the contents would destroy his friends' reputation.
He did not think it was his responsibility to find out the truth.
Correct answer: He respected the wishes of his friends.
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', both Enfield and Carew, both supposedly respectable men, were out walking ...
in the middle of the day
during working hours
Correct answer: in the dead of night
in the middle of Soho
Q6.
Robert L. Stevenson was raised in a religious household, his parents were Scottish ...
Correct answer: Calvinists
Progressives
Evangelicals

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', whilst Jekyll is responsible for the creation of Hyde, it can be argued other characters are ...
Correct Answer: complicit
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which character is arguably complicit because they know the truth but refuse to reveal it?
Mr. Utterson
Mr. Enfield
Correct answer: Dr. Lanyon
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which character is arguably complicit as they have access to the truth but choose not to try and find out it out?
Correct answer: Mr. Utterson
Mr. Enfield
Dr. Lanyon
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', who shares the analogy comparing asking questions to rolling a stone down a hill?
Mr. Utterson
Correct answer: Mr. Enfield
Dr. Lanyon
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the inferences below is the most logical to make about the stone analogy in Chapter 1?
Correct answer: You should not ask questions as the truth could embarrass reputable families
You should not ask questions as people may think your are nosey
Asking questions could result in you being embarrassed by the answers
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it could be argued that Stevenson's purpose is to ...
criticise all of the upper-middle classes
Correct answer: criticise the upper-middle class hypocrites
Correct answer: illustrate how immoral behaviour occurs across all social classes
show that all people are immoral