“I held out my hands. The grey creature in the corner leant forward… He put out a strangely distorted talon, and gripped my fingers. The thing was almost like the hoof of a deer produced into claws. I could have yelled with surprise and pain. His face came forward and peered at my nails, came forward into the light of the opening of the hut, and I saw with a quivering disgust that it was like the face of neither man nor beast…” (44).
This passage is taken from the scene in The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells in which Prendick is getting his first introduction to the “Law.” Prendick is brought to the cave where all of these creatures live and offered food before they recite to him this set of rules all of the creatures live by. This initial hospitality shown by the creatures makes Prendick comfortable enough to “hold out [his] hands.” In doing so, Prendick accepts the hospitality so kindly offered by the creatures. Because the act is voluntary on Prendick’s part, he is able to begin to connect with the beasts on his terms in a nonviolent manner. Additionally, the grey creature “gripped” Prendick’s fingers. The act of “gripping” rather than simply holding his hand attaches a desperate quality to the action. The creature needed to hold Prendick’s hand, and maintained a strong enough grip so that Prendick couldn’t easily break the connection. It is important to note here that this is one of the first times Prendick uses person-specific pronouns rather than neutral pronouns in regards to these creatures, signaling first signs of Prendick accepting the creatures as some form of human. This new use of pronouns coupled with his offer to touch the beast and the beast’s enthusiastic response makes for a fantastically human moment between Prendick and beast. It was as if the beast had been waiting to touch someone for so long, and Prendick, despite his disgust and preconceived assumptions, gave the beast that moment. This openness toward the beasts only grows within Prendick as the story progresses.
It cannot go unnoticed, however, that Prendick still harbors more hate towards the beasts in this passage than anything else. He remains open to the idea of the beast in the beginning of the passage, but the beast is still shrouded by the darkness of the cave. It isn’t until the beast “come[s] forward into the light of the opening of the hut” that Prendick becomes openly hateful in his account of this scene. Prendick “quivers” with disgust, suggesting he is so shocked by what he sees he has a physical reaction. “Disgust” is so severe in nature it signals the idea that Prendick isn’t simply uncomfortable with these creatures, but rather physically repulsed. He can’t even be in the same room as them, let alone touch them. Moreover, the introduction of light to the space is also the same instance in which Prendick stops using person-specific pronouns, reverting back to the use of “it” when referring to the beast. It is also the moment in which Prendick makes the clear distinction that the creatures are not “man.” In the same passage, Prendick recognizes the human qualities of the creatures, but also yanks those human qualities away in an instant.
Damrosch and Dettmar note in their section titled “The Age of Energy and Invention” the speed with which science advanced in the late Victorian era. As quoted by W.R. Greg, speed was the “most salient characteristic of life” during this later section of the Victorian era. The way in which the beast’s appendage is described, as a mixture of hand, claw, talon, and hoof, conjure images of science moving so fast that the appendage did not have enough time to decide what it was going to develop into. This, coupled with the speed with which Prendick gives human qualities to the beast only to take them away in a matter of seconds, allows this passage to act as a warning. It influences readers to reflect on themselves and what humanity and science looked like during that time. It begs so many important questions to be asked: How far will we let science interfere with humanity? Where is the line between animal and human? Is all science good science? This passage warns against taking science too far, but suggests that perhaps no matter the speed of advancement, some form of humanity will prevail.
Your analysis of Prendick’s disgust when one of the creatures grips his hand is very important because it reminds me of other parts in the novel where Prendick describes how the creatures are “grotesque.” He is simultaneously repulsed and intrigued by them and cannot seem to look away or stop himself from learning more about them. One example of this is when he goes out exploring to learn more about the island and its residents, but when he actually encounters some he is disgusted and wants nothing to do with them. I think your analysis of Prendick’s initial hospitality and immediate revulsion towards the creature really embodies his entire attitude towards the beast creatures as well as the approach of science in the late 19th century. The combination of curiosity and how far a person or an idea can be pushed while being disgusted with the outcome.
Your blog post reminds me of the moment when the sloth creature finds Prendick and takes him to the brutal scene of the dog man’s demise. In that scene, we also see a glimpse of humanity in the sloth creature because he recognizes the relationship between Prendick and the dog man, anticipates that Prendick will be upset about the dog man’s death, and takes Prendick to the scene so he can know what happened to his companion. I think it’s interesting that one of the most docile of Moreau’s creatures holds onto this bit of humanity, as it could possibly indicate that the more ‘naturally violent’ a creature is, the more bestial it is. Conversely, it could show that other animals besides humans can understand emotional bonds and react to them in a way that’s similar to how humans react to them.
I hadn’t noticed Prendick’s use of personal pronouns in speaking about the creatures in this scene before you pointed it out. I do think that this is really important to the novel as a whole, as Prendick primarily refers to the Beast People as “it” and “they,” packing them into a radicalized box of the “other.” Though Prendick’s reaction in this scene is inherently of disgust and racism, it reminds me of Lieutenant Pratt of the Carlisle Indian School (which the Trout Gallery is having a show on currently) who was seen as “radical” for wanting to “kill the indian, save the man,” rather than exterminating them altogether. Prendick may see the Beast People in a degrading light, but he is also willing to acknowledge the humanity deep within.
I am intrigued by your analysis of this seemingly human moment between Prendick and the creature, and I agree that this is a marking turning point in Prendick’s relationship with the other beast folk on the island. I also found it interesting that you read the moment where Prendick is led to the “village” that it was a moment of hospitality. I would argue that this moment just by itself could also serve as a marker in the Prendick’s relationship to the beast folk, as Prendick is being willingly led to meet and be in the company of other creatures despite his disgust for them. I think that overall, the scene was an indicator of grudging tolerance on Prendick’s part, especially since he no longer has the company of his fellow human companions.