Final answer:
Melodramas were exaggerated plays that, through clear depictions of heroes and villains, sought to entertain audiences and teach moral lessons about vice and virtue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genre of play that sought to both entertain and teach moral lessons about vice and virtue is known as melodrama. Melodramas were a popular form of entertainment, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries, and featured exaggerated characters such as villains, damsels in distress, and heroic men. These plays showcased Victorian standards of morality and conveyed clear messages of right and wrong. Similarly, other forms of entertainment at different times, like the satirical works by William Hogarth or the displays of virtue and vice in Roman times, also served to reflect and sometimes critique societal norms and moral values.