In class on Friday (11/17?) we began to speak on the topic of instinct (and self sacrifice). I found this excerpt from H.G Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau rather fitting.
"A pig may be educated. The
mental structure is even less determinate than the bodily. In our growing science of hypnotism we find the promise of a possibility of replacing old inherent instincts by new suggestions, grafting upon or replacing the inherited fixed ideas. Very much indeed of what we call moral education is such an artificial modification and perversion of instinct: pugnacity is trained into courageous self-sacrifice, and suppressed sexuality into religious emotion."
This short spat is exclaimed to Prendick upon the explanation of exactly what is happening on the island by Dr. Moreau.
It seems Pullman has solved the problem of repression of the instincts with his use of demons. lucky for me I have quite the demon of my own; I introduce the all powerful, bird woundin', mouse catchin', allergy symptomatic, white and fluffy yet viscious Bill Cartwright(above).
It seems H. G. Wells enjoy poking fun at some of the same concepts, an early influence on Pullman?
Bluebeard Reference:
In the beginning of the story, just after his arrival on the mysterious island Prendick is shown the quarters which he is welcomed to seek shelter. One of the doors must remain locked and is said to hide a "kind of Bluebeard's chamber". As it turns out, the entire story is a displacement of the Bluebeard story. The books theme is based on the controversial vivisection of animals and the problems that ensue in such experiments. The whole island is a Bluebeard's chamber we find in the end...
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