Science and Religion in The Island of Dr. Moreau
Science and Religion in ‘The Island of Dr. Moreau’
The Island of Dr. Moreau depicts the dueling concepts between science and religion. Throughout the Victorian Era within which H.G. Wells’ novel was written, turmoil between science and religion was at its peak. New scientific theories were proposed including Darwinism, which H.G. Wells strongly advocated as witnessed in his book. Many Christians opposed these findings as these new ideas often disproved what was written in the Bible. Therefore, a divide was created amongst Christians and scientists, the basis of the material introduced in The Island of Dr. Moreau. Due to opposing conflict between science and religion, Wells proposes the solution that rules separate humanity from animals.
In, The Island of Dr. Moreau, H.G. Wells expressed him opinions by agreeing with science’s disposition on life and afterlife rather than religion’s. One way he did this was by sympathizing towards anti-Christian characters. In a critique of Well’s writing, historian and writer Hillarie Belloc states, “…Perpetually do I find in [your book] marks of sympathetic or emotional attraction to that of which has given all its life to the anti-Catholic camp” (Belloc 491). One could assume the character Belloc is referring to is Dr. Moreau. It is clear that Dr. Moreau is anti-Catholic as he believes he can distort God’s work by transforming animals into humans. Also, Moreau may have achieved sympathetic from the readers by his feeble attempts of doing so despite his drive to never give up. Another way his preference for science was expressed was due to the lack of intervention from God. Writer Joyce Moss introduces this as she has written, “The lack of heavenly intervention illustrates Well’s contention that Christ is a ‘dressed up inconsistent effigy of amiability… making vague promises of helpful miracles for the cheating of simple souls in an ever absent help in times of trouble’ [As Wells proposed in his autobiography]” (Moss 405). Moss’
The Island of Dr. Moreau depicts the dueling concepts between science and religion. Throughout the Victorian Era within which H.G. Wells’ novel was written, turmoil between science and religion was at its peak. New scientific theories were proposed including Darwinism, which H.G. Wells strongly advocated as witnessed in his book. Many Christians opposed these findings as these new ideas often disproved what was written in the Bible. Therefore, a divide was created amongst Christians and scientists, the basis of the material introduced in The Island of Dr. Moreau. Due to opposing conflict between science and religion, Wells proposes the solution that rules separate humanity from animals.
In, The Island of Dr. Moreau, H.G. Wells expressed him opinions by agreeing with science’s disposition on life and afterlife rather than religion’s. One way he did this was by sympathizing towards anti-Christian characters. In a critique of Well’s writing, historian and writer Hillarie Belloc states, “…Perpetually do I find in [your book] marks of sympathetic or emotional attraction to that of which has given all its life to the anti-Catholic camp” (Belloc 491). One could assume the character Belloc is referring to is Dr. Moreau. It is clear that Dr. Moreau is anti-Catholic as he believes he can distort God’s work by transforming animals into humans. Also, Moreau may have achieved sympathetic from the readers by his feeble attempts of doing so despite his drive to never give up. Another way his preference for science was expressed was due to the lack of intervention from God. Writer Joyce Moss introduces this as she has written, “The lack of heavenly intervention illustrates Well’s contention that Christ is a ‘dressed up inconsistent effigy of amiability… making vague promises of helpful miracles for the cheating of simple souls in an ever absent help in times of trouble’ [As Wells proposed in his autobiography]” (Moss 405). Moss’