The Island of Doctor Moreau
written by H. G. Wells
www.ink2quill.com

”The Island of Dr. Moreau” is a science fiction novel written by H. G,. Wells with countless adaptions made from it. It was published in 1896 and has also inspired many works of literature, comics and film such as ”The Madman´s Daughter: Trilogy” written by Megan Shepherd and ”The Only Living Boy” which is a comic written by David Gallaher and ”The Fallen” written by Charlie Higson to name just a few. There was even a TV episode of ”The Simpson´s” called ”The Island of Dr. Hilbert”. This is a science fiction classic and literary classic for a very good reason. The story is fantastic with moral issues that are more relevant today than ever before.

Keep in mind that the term ”science fiction” didn´t come out until decades later so this novel might have been characterized as a ”scientific romance” novel or a ”scientifiction” novel. That is to say, an adventure story with scientific elements. The term ”science fiction” was brought into being in 1929. H.G. Wells is considered to be one of the fathers of science fiction with science fiction classics like ”The Time Machine”, ”The Invisible Man” and ”The War Of The Worlds”.

Just as a side note the science fiction genre is a branch the romance genre. In some ways science fiction isn´t just about the imagination or technology, science or other worlds. It´s about our ideals and where those ideals fit into the world. Also our imagination is a very important part of what we do and what we become as individuals or a society and because of that it´s only fair that science fiction story tellers also be called ”artists”.

”The Island of Dr. Moreau” is the tale of Edward Prendick´s adventures on a strange island run by a Prospero-like antagonist called Dr. Moreau (Prospero from Shakespeare´s ”Tempest”). The story begins when Edward is shipwrecked and rescued. He is taken to an island where he is a guest in the home of a Dr. Moreau.

While on the island Edward witnesses more and more disturbing events. Apparently the ”good” doctor was performing gruesome experiments with animals (and people). Edward already knew of Dr. Moreau as a man who was caught performing gruesome experiments back home in England then disappeared. He knew him to be a strange vivisectionist who was run out of England, like Prospero in Shakespeare´s ”Tempest”.

He later learns the existence of the creatures the doctor made, the House of Pain and the law, which the creatures are forced to follow. The island really is a kind of hell. It´s a lunatic´s nightmare with those unfortunate creatures caught inside. At one point Dr. Moreau says

”I have seen the devil in my microscope and I have chained him.”

If Dr. Moreau took an honest look at himself he probably would have used the word ”emulated” instead of ”chained”.

Dr. Moreau is a man who tinkers with life while ignoring the suffering he creates. He is convinced he has solved the riddle of life and can change a person into an animal or vice versa. He creates human/animal hybrids and uses pain and torture to make them behave like people. He never considers the issues of cruelty and moral responsibility toward these creatures that are clearly sentient and similar to human beings.

I enjoyed this book. This is a real sci-fi classic that´s worth reading.

(Commentary by www.ink2quill.com )
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