The Island of Dr. Moreau

by H. G. Wells

The Island of Dr. Moreau: Situational Irony 2 key examples

Chapter 3: The Strange Face
Explanation and Analysis—Defending M'ling:

There is a telling moment of situational irony in Chapter 3, when Montgomery defends M'ling from the drunken ship captain's abuse:

I could see that Montgomery had an ugly temper, and I saw too that this quarrel had been some time growing. “The man’s drunk,” said I, perhaps officiously; “you’ll do no good.”

Montgomery gave an ugly twist to his dropping lip. “He’s always drunk. Do you think that excuses his assaulting his passengers?”

Chapter 15: Concerning the Beast Folk
Explanation and Analysis—Moreau's Law:

In Chapter 15, Prendick learns more about the Beast Folk now that Moreau has described to him how they came to be. There is situational irony in the way Moreau and Montgomery talk about the Law as a restraint on the Beast Folk's behavior:

Montgomery told me that the Law, especially among the feline Beast People, became oddly weakened about nightfall; that then the animal was at its strongest ; a spirit of adventure sprang up in them at the dusk, they would dare things they never seemed to dream about by day.

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