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Motifs
Definition of Parody
A parody is a work that mimics the style of another work, artist, or genre in an exaggerated way, usually for comic effect. Parodies can take many forms, including fiction... read full definition
A parody is a work that mimics the style of another work, artist, or genre in an exaggerated way, usually for comic effect. Parodies can... read full definition
A parody is a work that mimics the style of another work, artist, or genre in an exaggerated way, usually... read full definition
Chapter 12: The Sayers of the Law
Explanation and Analysis—Ten Commandments:
In Chapter 12, Prendick first observes and joins in on the Beast Folk's ritual of reciting the Law. This practice, which seems ridiculous to him, is a parody of the Ten Commandments in Christianity:
"[...] Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men?”
And so from the prohibition of these acts of folly, on to the prohibition of what I thought then were the maddest, most impossible and most indecent things one could well imagine. A kind of rhythmic fervour fell on all of us; we gabbled and swayed faster and faster, repeating this amazing law. Superficially the contagion of these brute men was upon me, but deep down within me laughter and disgust struggled together.
The actions the Law prohibits seem to Prendick "the maddest, most impossible and most indecent things one could well imagine." It is so strange to him that the Beast Folk are swearing not to do these things because it does not make sense that it would even occur to them to do these things in the first place. For instance, not chasing another man seems like a given in any community he has ever lived in. And yet Prendick notes the "contagion of these brute men" and how it spreads to him. Even though he thinks it is ridiculous, he gets caught up in the fervor of the ritual. Despite himself, he begins reciting the Law along with them. As the ritual continues, Prendick keeps reciting even though the Beast Folk begin pledging their loyalty to "Him." Prendick has no idea at this point that "He" is Doctor Moreau and that he is now pledging loyalty to the man he is trying to flee.
The way the recitation of the Law draws in unthinking and unknowing participants is a parody of the way Christian churches teach their members, especially young children, to recite the Ten Commandments. These Commandments forbid such unthinkable acts as killing other people. Christians are supposed to know the Commandments by heart, and being able to recite them can signal devotion to the church. The Commandments are so embedded in Christianity, and Christianity is so embedded in much of Western society, that many laws are based directly on the Commandments. Prendick comes into the ritual surrounding the Law as an outsider, so he can see how strange it seems that the Beast Folk must promise again and again not to do things like chase men. But the Ten Commandments, Wells suggests, forbid no less strange actions. The recitation of the Law begs the question of whether society is very stable if such basic social norms as refraining from murder are only in place because people learn them by rote. Memorizing a rule does not necessarily require true reflection on why the forbidden action is wrong. The Beast People do not have a sense of why they should not chase men. The novel suggests that, likewise, many Christians may not have a sense of why they should not kill people.
Related Themes:
