TheAz
08-03-2008, 08:33 PM
Having just read 'The Island Of Dr. Moreau' in response to a friends' reccomendation; I was absolutely enthralled. This science fiction novel swiftly became of of my favourites.
This thread assumes the readers knowledge of the novel and its characters.
Dr. Moreau, the eccentric, avant-garde scientist present on the Island could be seen as a God-like figure. In what way, if any do you agree with this hypothesis?
The main points enforcing such an argument are as follows:
- Wells illustrates Moreau as physically having the charectaristics of God with 'white hair and beard', representing the God of classical theism.
- The language used by Moreau is similar to the God of the Old Testament. Phrases such as "the ultimate lawgiver" and Moreau's position as the punisher of sins invoke religious symbolism.
- After Moreau dies, Prendick describes the vivisector as 'alive' and 'watching upon us', supplying yet more religious symbolism.
Even with this apparent similarity to God, Moreau fails in the quintessential deisitic attribute, that of ultimate creativity or 'Prime Creator'. Instead Dr. Moreau can only offer a pseudo-creativity, adapting and manipulating in order to construct.
So, What opinions do people hold?
This thread assumes the readers knowledge of the novel and its characters.
Dr. Moreau, the eccentric, avant-garde scientist present on the Island could be seen as a God-like figure. In what way, if any do you agree with this hypothesis?
The main points enforcing such an argument are as follows:
- Wells illustrates Moreau as physically having the charectaristics of God with 'white hair and beard', representing the God of classical theism.
- The language used by Moreau is similar to the God of the Old Testament. Phrases such as "the ultimate lawgiver" and Moreau's position as the punisher of sins invoke religious symbolism.
- After Moreau dies, Prendick describes the vivisector as 'alive' and 'watching upon us', supplying yet more religious symbolism.
Even with this apparent similarity to God, Moreau fails in the quintessential deisitic attribute, that of ultimate creativity or 'Prime Creator'. Instead Dr. Moreau can only offer a pseudo-creativity, adapting and manipulating in order to construct.
So, What opinions do people hold?