The Island Of Doctor Moreau Analysis

The influential socialist Karl Marx is famed for calling religion "the sign of the oppressed creature" and "the opium of the people." In his novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau, H.G. Wells takes Marx's words and literally depicts them, by having scientist Moreau turn animals into humans and positioning himself as their God. By having religion control the Beast People’s animalistic tendencies as well as controlling all other aspects of their lives, Wells argues that religion can be as dangerous as it can be useful.
By teaching animals religion and laws, Moreau turns himself into God. Moreau admits to acting similar as God by saying “ ‘confined myself to man-making’ ” (Wells 126). He grafted these animals and taught them everything they knew, so he was able to brainwash them with a religion he created. Moreover, when Moreau calls out the animals they gather around him in loyalty and reverence similar to a religious ceremony. Through the chants of the animals at the gathering, the deification becomes noticeable:“ 'His is the House of Pain. His is the Hand that makes [. . .] His is the lightning flash, His is the deep, salt sea.' A horrible fancy came into my head that Moreau, after animalising these men, had infected their dwarfed
Just as Moreau dies-- offscreen because God is immoral-- the Beast People’s faith dies off. Prendick tries to assert power but fails, signaling that the loss of religion has lead to a loss in a power structure. Slowly but surely "day by day, human semblance left them; how they gave up bandagings and wrappings abandoned at last every stitch of clothing; how hair began to spread over the exposed limbs" the animals start reverting back to humans as they have lost the thread that once made them human (Wells 167). The religion they followed loyally and blindly has backfired, and Prendick comes to the conclusion that religion is just a way to control