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Christ's Law and Moreau's Bible

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          The Island of Dr. Moreau encapsulates a world in which an island, run by Dr. Moreau, is populated almost completely by Beast Folk. Despite their insatiable animalistic impulse to run freely and hunt prey, the Beast Folk lead peaceful lives in their civilization. This civilized society is a result of The Law; a system of rules and beliefs devised by Dr. Moreau to dictate the behavior of the Beast Folk. Similar to how Christ is idealized in Christianity, Moreau is idealized and deified through the Law, giving his followers someone to aspire to and someone to serve. The Law is the religion that follows the bases of Christianity, however there is no free will in this system. If Beast Folk are to disobey The Law, they are sent to the House of Pain. Dr. Moreau uses The Law as a religious tool to oppress the Beast Folk; by portraying Dr. Moreau’s manipulation of religion to control the Beast Folk, Wells suggests the cautionary tale of exploiting faith and obedience for oppressive purposes.

         Dr. Moreau leads an island entirely inhabited by Beast Folk. The island itself is enamored with civility from its residents, this is due to the enforcement of The Law. The Law is a system of rules and beliefs created and enforced by Dr. Moreau in order to govern the behavior of the Beast Folk. When creating the Law, Moreau is instilling himself in the role of God as he has the ultimate authority over the Beast Folk’s actions. The Law shares similarities to the Ten Commandments, as it is the moral foundation for the island as the Ten Commandments are to Christianity. The oppression the Law constitutes is woven throughout the narrative evidently shown when the acts of walking on all fours, eating raw meat, chasing prey, and making animal noises as forms of communication—standard animal urges—are strictly prohibited. With god-like Moreau and religious figures such as the Sayer of the Law enforcing such laws and threatening retribution if there is disobedience, the Law mirrors how religious laws can govern society. The Beast Folk have been molded through the repression of the Law, to obey Dr. Moreau and perceive him to be their protector and creator, as well as their ideal representation of how to behave and communicate. This ignites their urge to obey the Law in order to become more human, or more like Moreau. The Law idealizes and deifies Moreau in a manner parallel to how Christ is idealized in Christianity, providing his followers with a role model and someone to serve. For instance, in recitation of the Law, the Beast Folk are to chant: “’His is the House of Pain. His is the Hand that makes. His is the Hand that wounds. His is the Hand that heals.’ And so on for another long series, mostly quite incomprehensible gibberish to me about Him, whoever he might be. I could have fancied it was a dream, but never before have I heard chanting in a dream. ‘His is the lightning flash,’ we sang. ‘His is the deep, salt sea.’ A horrible fancy came into my head that Moreau, after animalising these men, had infected their dwarfed brains with a kind of deification of himself.” (Wells 175). This use of Moreau embedding his name to be referred to as “His” directly mirrors the reference utilized when calling for Christ in the Bible, “Praise His name with dancing” (Psalm 149:3). Wells’ usage of Moreau liking himself to that of God is one that demonstrates the manipulation of blind faith. Moreau exploits their devotion to him in a way that dictates their behavior and forces the Beast Folk to idolize nothing else but him and his morals (or lack thereof).

          The Beast Folk themselves are also a representation of oppression in religion. Wells depicts Moreau’s character to play God in the name of science. Moreau’s creation of the Beast Folk is his devout creation onto the world; altering their very beings and deciding their fate and who they will become. This characteristic shaped from Moreau’s morals is a metaphor for how religious institutions can seek to reshape individual’s identities or control their choices in the name of their Lord. The Law is an essential component of their civilization, much like religion, as without it, it would fall apart. Beast Folk are required by The Law to suppress their animalistic impulses, much like other religions place restrictions on their disciples. With religious characters like the Sayer of the Law to be reiterating the Law constantly, it becomes all the animals know. The Sayer of the Law oversees reciting and upholding the laws that Dr. Moreau has bestowed. This character is essential to keeping the Beast Folk in line and under control on the island. Reciting the laws that the beast folk must abide by, along with the accentuation of how “None escape” (Wells176) the Sayer of the Law assumes the role of a religious figure, inspiring dread and obedience among them. This figure represents authority and power, illustrating the ability of religious leaders to sway and control people in society. Wells hints at this narrative when the chants ensue, “’For every one the want that is bad,’ said the grey Sayer of the Law. ‘What you will want, we do not know. We shall know. Some want to follow things that move, to watch and slink and wait and spring, to kill and bite, deep and rich, sucking the blood…It is bad. ‘Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men?’” (Wells 177). Wells usage of Moreau shaping these ideologies and controlling their choices subtly mirrors the concept of original sin and observing Sabbath in Christianity. The concept of original sin being the inherent human flaws needing redemption or else there is a price to be paid in the afterlife as well as the weekly day of worship that shapes one’s priorities and morals beyond career and relationships, is one nuanced by Wells.

          The threat of punishment is another property of the Law. Those who break the law are forced to return to the House of Pain, also known as Moreau's vivisection cell by the Beast Folk, where they will presumably suffer further vivisection in order to appease him. The physical suffering of the House of Pain is strikingly comparable to the prospect of Hell, which in and of itself works to dissuade people from giving in to their natural impulses. The House of Pain is a threat of retribution the way Hell is the retribution for sinners of Christianity. As the ethical authority of the Beast Folk, the Law thus replicates the moral authority of religion or morality in human society in a concrete way by offering moral guidance, a goal to strive for, and the introduction of severe punishments. Moreau threatens the Beast People to suffer physical agony as retribution for breaking the Law, sounding a much like a fire-and-brimstone preacher, “Punishment is sharp and sure. Therefore learn the Law. Say the words.” (Wells 178). The fear insured from those who have already paid a visit to the House of Pain, all but brand the Law on their forehead as they are extremely fearful of returning to such cruel punishment that they drown themselves in the Law even more. “’Evil are the punishments of those who break the Law. None escape.’ ‘None escape,’ said the Beast Folk, glancing furtively at one another. ‘None, none,’ said the Ape-man, —'none escape. See! I did a little thing, a wrong thing, once. I jabbered, jabbered, stopped talking. None could understand. I am burnt, branded in the hand. He is great. He is good!’ ‘None escape,’ said the Beast People, looking askance at one another.” (Wells 176). The Beast People suppress any urge to rebel because they are afraid of Moreau's infrequent displays of violence and brutality upon them. Even following Moreau’s death, the majority of Beast People fall for Prendick's deception right away, mocking the biblical account of Christ's ascent to heaven. The blatant falsity of Moreau's ascension highlights the psychological horror, similar to that felt by god-fearing followers of any religion, that he inflicts on the Beast People long after his death.

          The usage of the Law for Moreau’s personal gain of power and domination over the Beast Folk is a direct exploitation of faith and devotion from the Beast Folk, as they idolize Moreau in a god-like fashion; symbolizing the potential exploitation of faith in religions we know today. With the Law being evident as the foundation for humanity on the island, as it will collapse without it, Wells also demonstrates that giving up religion entails giving up the religious commandments that prevent people from being their worst selves. Dr. Moreau uses The Law as a religious tool to oppress the Beast Folk; by portraying Dr. Moreau’s manipulation of religion to control the Beast Folk, Wells suggests the cautionary tale of exploiting faith and obedience for oppressive purposes.

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