The Island Of Dr Moreau Essay

In the 19th century, technological advancements created a broader spectrum of opportunities for scientists and researchers to gather knowledge. However, in order to gain the knowledge they were looking for, controversial methods were often used. In H. G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau, current scientific debates of the time were brought up through the topic of vivisection. Wells paints a horrific picture using this popular experimental surgery and, without explicitly condemning the advancement of technology, he presents a warning about the dangers of removing ethics from science in his writing. Ted Gioia supports this idea in his article critiquing the book, and Elizabeth Kitt provides background information on science in the 1800’s in The

Although this novel is a work of fiction, the events described are not necessarily far off from what was going on during this time in history. The scientific ideas and techniques displayed were both real and occurring, so the non-fiction feeling that Well’s provides does not seem very far fetched. There is nothing science fiction about this book so the man-made beasts that fill the pages are just twisted enough to be horrific. “The Island of Dr. Moreau is not sci-fi in which the science is ancillary to the real story, merely a pretext for social commentary. Rather Wells, back in 1896, gets to the crux of the matter, understanding that technology itself can be problematic, and that storytelling may offer a way of circumscribing its equivocal nature, getting to the heart of the matter in a way that scientists themselves are unlikely to do.” (Gioia 2008) As the book slowly becomes increasingly dark and the beasts more terrifying, the audience receives an ominous rendition of 19th century science. This is in no way accidental, as Wells is commenting on the threatening advancement of science and the potential horrors that he feared would come along with