Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
IDEAS: İngilizce Edebi Araştırmalar Dergisi, cilt.5, sa.2, ss.43-58, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
H. G. Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau raises the question of “What is a human?” by its delineation of the complex interplay between human identity and posthumanist thought within an island setting, which serves as a microcosm for the boundaries of humanity and morality focusing on characters Dr. Moreau, Montgomery, and the protagonist Edward Prendick. Unlike Prendick, Dr. Moreau and Montgomery, who regard themselves as gods above nature and use it for their purposes, epitomize the shortcomings of anthropocentrism, in contrast to posthumanism, which decentralizes the human being and sees her/him as part of the whole, thus subverting the conventional ideas of human superiority and primacy. Through Prendick, readers witness moral dilemmas and existential struggles when confronted with the brutality and savagery inherent in humans and animals. Thus, the novel casts doubt on the idea that humans are exceptional by obfuscating the distinction between humans and animals, which foregrounds the animalistic essence within humans. The Island of Doctor Moreau suggests that being human transcends mere biological distinctions, encompassing a complex interplay of intellect, emotion, and morality. The novel challenges readers to reevaluate their place in the natural world and recognize the interconnectedness of all living beings, echoing the ethos of posthumanism in its rejection of human exceptionalism and promotion of empathy and respect for all forms of life. Therefore, this article defines the concept of human being in an island setting, as shown in H. G. Wells’s The Island of Dr. Moreau, from a posthumanist perspective through its three main characters.