The Island of Doctor Moreau

On the island, Moreau largely governs the Beast People by using violence and fear. However, the development of the plot reveals that this method of maintaining control is tenuous and unlikely to establish long-term stability. Moreau’s authority over the Beast People is somewhat impressive given that they are more numerous and more physically powerful; they could easily injure or kill him, but they remain submissive for most of the plot because they fear Moreau’s authority. Moreau maintains power by cultivating an aura of mystery and invincibility; Prendick observes that “Moreau, after animalizing these men, had infected their dwarfed brains with a kind of deification of himself” (59). While at this point Prendick misunderstands the nature of the Beast People (thinking Moreau has imposed animal characteristics onto humans), he accurately describes the fear and awe with which they regard Moreau. The Beast People even see it as Moreau’s justifiable right to impose physical punishment onto them: the Ape Man explains, “I am burned, branded in the hand. He is great, he is good” (60). The physical suffering that Moreau inflicts on the Beast People helps to secure their deference and obedience, but he is only able to administer these punishments because they accept that they need to abide by the Law and deserve to be punished when they breach it.