The Island Of Dr. Moreau Analysis

Thomas Hobbes postulates that education civilized the naturally violent and cold-hearted tendencies of mankind, whereas Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that schooling and society bastardized our natural instincts of compassion and kindness. The book The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells exemplifies both philosopher’s belief of the effect of education on human nature.
Particularly in chapter eight, “The Crying of the Puma,” Wells emphasizes Hobbes’ opinion that education civilizes. When the narrator, Edward Prendick, hears a cry from a puma as it is tortured by Dr. Moreau Prendick is tormented and heartbroken by the sound. His sympathetic reaction is caused by his formal education teaching him that causing the pain of any animal is wrong. Prendick states that “the emotional appeal of those yells grew upon me steadily, grew at last to such an
It is education that causes this compassion as seen through a comparison of the reactions to the cry of Prendick, Montgomery, and Moreau. Prendick, who has been surrounded by the civilizing force of society and education until very recently, is pained by the cry of the animal. Montgomery, who has been isolated for longer than Prendick but still visits society on occasion, grimaces when he hears the yells and is obviously uncomfortable. Finally, Moreau, who has been isolated from society for so long he has reverted to man’s natural state, is the one causing the pain of the creature with no guilt on his part.
Prendick clearly exemplifies Thomas Hobbes’ opinion in ‘The Crying of the Puma.’ However, he does not act in any way to end the puma’s suffering. This begs the question, how far should compassion stretch and how much empathy should be taught? Prendick did not save the puma in order to remain in good graces with Moreau, but maybe it is more important to prevent suffering than to be