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A review by hjswinford
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
4.0
My Overall Thoughts - 4.5/5
“Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should…” This book seems like a dark precursor to Jurassic Park. Except the big budget corporation aspect is removed and it’s just this guy, Dr. Moreau, who is The Most Evil…all in the name of science and knowledge. I read up a little bit on the historical context of the publication of this novel and was quite surprised and interested in the conversations that were happening around actual vivisection practice…WHAT…and also the world-rocking concepts of Darwinism which were sweeping the world. In the years preceeding this novel, the National Anti-Vivisection Society was founded—because this was apparently really a thing people did—and still exists today as an active animal welfare group.
Character Development - 4/5
The narrator, Prendick, struggles mightily with the ethical and moral implications of everything around him and it makes him an interesting narrator. I even found that I grew attached to a couple of the creatures, especially Dog Man. My attachment made the entire scenario all the more revolting, but then that was the whole point, was it not?
Story Structure - 5/5
Linear and unobstructive.
Tone/Style - 5/5
Very H.G. Wells style. Simple and clear. Prendick as a narrator was sympathetic and direct.
Content
There is some gore and some murder. The creatures are quite unsettling, but most of that is left up to the reader’s imagination.
My Final Thoughts
While perhaps not as specifically applicable to animal rights issues going on in the world today, the philosophical ponderings around man interfering with nature, fear, pain, and the nature of humanity will always be relevant. It was an interesting read. Not my favorite of Wells’s works, but easy and interesting.
“Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should…” This book seems like a dark precursor to Jurassic Park. Except the big budget corporation aspect is removed and it’s just this guy, Dr. Moreau, who is The Most Evil…all in the name of science and knowledge. I read up a little bit on the historical context of the publication of this novel and was quite surprised and interested in the conversations that were happening around actual vivisection practice…WHAT…and also the world-rocking concepts of Darwinism which were sweeping the world. In the years preceeding this novel, the National Anti-Vivisection Society was founded—because this was apparently really a thing people did—and still exists today as an active animal welfare group.
Character Development - 4/5
The narrator, Prendick, struggles mightily with the ethical and moral implications of everything around him and it makes him an interesting narrator. I even found that I grew attached to a couple of the creatures, especially Dog Man. My attachment made the entire scenario all the more revolting, but then that was the whole point, was it not?
Story Structure - 5/5
Linear and unobstructive.
Tone/Style - 5/5
Very H.G. Wells style. Simple and clear. Prendick as a narrator was sympathetic and direct.
Content
There is some gore and some murder. The creatures are quite unsettling, but most of that is left up to the reader’s imagination.
My Final Thoughts
While perhaps not as specifically applicable to animal rights issues going on in the world today, the philosophical ponderings around man interfering with nature, fear, pain, and the nature of humanity will always be relevant. It was an interesting read. Not my favorite of Wells’s works, but easy and interesting.