Allusions In The Island Of Dr Moreau

Throughout H.G. Wells’s short novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), the assortment of Biblical allusions creates an underlying religious tone that can be discovered by reading between the lines of the novel. Doctor Moreau’s creations, the Beast Folk, often quote the Law, an eerily spiritual mantra that advises the creatures to not go on all fours, eat flesh or fish, or chase other men (Wells 114). These fundamental principles of the Law, which the Beast Folk tenaciously obey, embody basic humanistic traits required for civilization. Their eternal search for authority and the meaning of life, the basis of most religions throughout the world, reveals their spiritual tendencies through their actions as well as their words. The Beast Folk’s

. . Say the words’” (Wells 113). This first section of the Law demonstrates that the beasts created an ethical code to please their creator, and it is the first indication that the Beast Folk believe in a higher power. Upon learning that Prendick has come to live with the creatures, the Ape-man insists, “‘It is a man. He must learn the Law’” (Wells 113). Although this quotation may seem trivial, it is in fact a crucial turning point in the story that humanizes the Beast Folk, suggesting that they are capable of the intelligent thought that religion demands, and showing that adherence to the Law is necessary to become part of their civilization. Ultimately, the chant of prohibited activities suggests that Moreau’s creatures are bound by a religious code, but the following sections of the Law offer an even stronger connection to a deity.

Furthermore, the second section of the Law represents various verses in the Bible that assert that God is the omnipotent presence in our society. Following the list of prohibitions, the chant takes on a new twist that details the powers of the Beast Folk’s god, who is assumed by Prendick to be Moreau. The Beast Folk, especially the Sayer of the Law, often repeat lines from this section of the chant, which suggests that a theological presence is not only important in their

When the narrator states, “Moreau sounded the horn . . . at three or four points on the edge of the sulphurous area appeared the grotesque forms of the Beast People, hurrying towards us” (Wells 140), one can conclude that the Beast People’s allegiance to Moreau, which is intense yet childlike, points to the significance of their devotion to the Law. Because the beasts quickly follow Moreau’s orders, it is apparent that he is the one they worship and serve. Even though the Beast Folk’s devotion to Moreau is evidence for their deistic behavior, their belief in him being the only god is challenged when Moreau is