Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Jurassic Park, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Chaos, Change, and Control
Sight and Insight
Flawed Human Nature
Technology
Summary
Analysis
Gennaro’s secretary brings him a hastily purchased suitcase of new clothes, remarking that his forgetfulness about packing shows how little he wants to go on his upcoming trip to the island. He’s going to miss his daughter’s fourth birthday party. As Gennaro heads for the elevators, his boss stops him in the hallway with an order: if there’s a problem on the island, Gennaro should “burn it to the ground.”
Gennaro drags his feet about the trip to the island, suggesting he knows more about it—and its dangers—than almost anyone else. This also demonstrates his selfish desire to avoid responsibility for his part in InGen and its projects. He’d rather ignore the problems and stay home.
Themes
On the flight from California to Montana, Hammond reproaches Gennaro for neglecting his old friend John. Gennaro knows that Hammond’s small, child-like stature belies his “flamboyant […] showman” tendencies. He remembers how, in their early years of fundraising, Hammond carried around a miniature 9-inch-tall elephant in a cage as an example of the promising potential of “consumer biologicals.” Gennaro knows the details that Hammond didn’t share with potential investors: the elephant wasn’t technically genetically engineered; Hammond’s geneticist couldn’t replicate his initial success; the elephant was sickly; it displayed abnormal behavior for an elephant; and the geneticist was dying of terminal cancer. But, with Gennaro’s help, Hammond raised the money he needed to get InGen started.
Hammond’s short, innocuous body belies his drive and recklessness, offering a reminder that looks can be deceiving. But because Gennaro has known Hammond for many years, his memories offer insight into Hammond’s deeply flawed character. The story of the miniature elephant shows how Hammond lies to his investors, denies and ignores evidence that contradicts his vision, and has little concern for the welfare of his animal or human partner. Without evidence that Hammond has addressed any of these flaws, Gennaro worries about the viability of the newest project.
Themes
Gennaro considers Hammond’s tendency for denial. Even now Hammond treats the trip like a grand social event rather than an inspection that Gennaro forced on him. Gennaro asks if the park is ready for visitors, and while Hammond evades the question a little, he notes that the hotel is built and he boasts that they have “two hundred and thirty-eight animals” from 15 different species. The resort, Hammond assures Gennaro, is “state-of-the-art [… and] perfectly wonderful.” He says no one should be concerned; any delays and postponements were inevitable, given the nature of the park’s astonishing, living attractions. And anyway, the men agree, the project will still deliver on its most important promise: making them “lots and lots of money.”
Hammond’s denial and evasive answers confirm that his character hasn’t evolved since Gennaro met him, raising concerns over his current project. He ignores any potential issues to focus on the park’s cutting-edge nature and the number of animals—representing the number of times his team successfully recreated and raised a living dinosaur. And he restates his primary motivation (which Gennaro shares): greed. As much as Hammond feels pride over his park, his main goal is personal enrichment.
Themes
The secret to making money is limiting costs, Hammond reasons. He assures Gennaro that the huge initial investment in computer technology will save money through automating as many tasks as possible. Still, between an advanced computer system and wild animals, one “run[s] into snags.” And he admits to several accidents—three deaths, total. But no accidents have occurred for months.
Hammond’s desire for wealth makes him prioritize cost cutting. This, along with his distressing pattern of callousness toward animal and human suffering, should raise questions for readers about the park’s safety. His attempt to brush off the park’s accidents—fatalities, really—as old news is callous and suggests that things aren’t as well controlled as he would like Gennaro to believe.
Themes
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