'Jekyll and Hyde': moral decay and respectability

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.