At the turn of the twentieth century, the ideas of evolution changed the worlds views of society. Many authors felt inspired by these new ideas of evolution, as seen in numerous novels during this time period. In the scientific novel The Island Of Dr. Moreau written by H.G. Wells, Wells utilizes his characters to compare and contrast the idea of evolution. Thus, this paper will evaluate and analyze literary criticisms discussing theme and character in Wells’s novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau.
A majority of critics presume there are many themes throughout the novel The Island Of Dr. Moreau written by H. G. Wells. For example, one critic believes that the main theme throughout the novel is that subsequent to the beginning of civilization humans …show more content…
Huxle believes that people morph into who they are due to their social surroundings. For example, when Prendick first arrived on the ship after he was venturing aboard the Lady Vain at Callao, he was picked up by Montgomery and Dr. Moreau. When Prendick first saw the beasts, he was mortified and ashamed to see what Dr. Moreau has done to the animals, but as the novel progresses he later “felt no desire to return to mankind” (Wells 134). Since Prendick was surrounded with anomalous beasts for a protracted span of time he started to “feel as though the animal was surging up through him” (Wells 135). A similar example is when Prendick “had been with the [beasts] so long that he had come to regard them as almost normal human beings” (Wells 85). Another recurring theme throughout the novel is how Wells weaved the theory of evolution in his novel. After Dr. Moreau was banished from England he took his ship, Ipecacuanha, to a remote island to begin his experiments. He first started by talking about the “transfusion of blood… and the growths of morbirds” (Wells 34). After Prendick discovers what has been happening, Dr. Moreau then begins to explain how a “flap of skin is cut from the forehead, turned down on the nose, and heals in the new position” (Wells 72). This contributes to Darwin's theory of evolution because Dr. Moreau is trying to change …show more content…
One critic believes that “if Moreau is the anti-hero of the novel, it would nevertheless be difficult to call Prendick the hero” (The Island Of Dr.Moreau 161). The critic Sven additionally believes that if you are an “ape like man” or “manlike ape” no matter what, both would probably struggle in this society with Dr. Moreau's creations, this adds “pity and horror” in the scientific novel (DB). Throughout the novel Prendick starts to “fetishize” the idea of twentieth-century animals. This shows how Prendick starts feeling pity and fear towards the animals. Since Prendick acts as the voice for the beasts he advocates that the animals should not be used as “scientific research” which shows he is sympathetic with the animals (Payal DB). In addition, through his writing, Wells ensures that the reader understands what is happening to the animals. “Moreau's description of those who experience pain as more animal-like and less human also takes on a gendered note in the experimentation on the puma woman” (Sherryl DB). In conclusion, many of the critics have different ideas of the use of character throughout this
A majority of critics presume there are many themes throughout the novel The Island Of Dr. Moreau written by H. G. Wells. For example, one critic believes that the main theme throughout the novel is that subsequent to the beginning of civilization humans …show more content…
Huxle believes that people morph into who they are due to their social surroundings. For example, when Prendick first arrived on the ship after he was venturing aboard the Lady Vain at Callao, he was picked up by Montgomery and Dr. Moreau. When Prendick first saw the beasts, he was mortified and ashamed to see what Dr. Moreau has done to the animals, but as the novel progresses he later “felt no desire to return to mankind” (Wells 134). Since Prendick was surrounded with anomalous beasts for a protracted span of time he started to “feel as though the animal was surging up through him” (Wells 135). A similar example is when Prendick “had been with the [beasts] so long that he had come to regard them as almost normal human beings” (Wells 85). Another recurring theme throughout the novel is how Wells weaved the theory of evolution in his novel. After Dr. Moreau was banished from England he took his ship, Ipecacuanha, to a remote island to begin his experiments. He first started by talking about the “transfusion of blood… and the growths of morbirds” (Wells 34). After Prendick discovers what has been happening, Dr. Moreau then begins to explain how a “flap of skin is cut from the forehead, turned down on the nose, and heals in the new position” (Wells 72). This contributes to Darwin's theory of evolution because Dr. Moreau is trying to change …show more content…
One critic believes that “if Moreau is the anti-hero of the novel, it would nevertheless be difficult to call Prendick the hero” (The Island Of Dr.Moreau 161). The critic Sven additionally believes that if you are an “ape like man” or “manlike ape” no matter what, both would probably struggle in this society with Dr. Moreau's creations, this adds “pity and horror” in the scientific novel (DB). Throughout the novel Prendick starts to “fetishize” the idea of twentieth-century animals. This shows how Prendick starts feeling pity and fear towards the animals. Since Prendick acts as the voice for the beasts he advocates that the animals should not be used as “scientific research” which shows he is sympathetic with the animals (Payal DB). In addition, through his writing, Wells ensures that the reader understands what is happening to the animals. “Moreau's description of those who experience pain as more animal-like and less human also takes on a gendered note in the experimentation on the puma woman” (Sherryl DB). In conclusion, many of the critics have different ideas of the use of character throughout this