From: Jim Jordan <jbjordan@gnt.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) What is the Law?
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 22:56:51 


[Posted from URTH, a mailing list about Gene Wolfe's New Sun and other works]

Mantis writes:
>
>After all, the central tension in Dr. Moreau is the Law: Not to Eat
>Meat.  Not necessarily because Wells was a socialist vegetarian--but
>because the beastmen are evolving (or being evolved) and therefore do
>not =need= to eat meat to survive; that is, the biological imperative
>has been modified by "civilization" and it remains to be seen whether
>the beastmen, collectively or individually, can resist the temptation
>to resort/relax into "bestial" behavior.

	The Law is also present in "Tracking Song," but each group has its own
laws, law being indispensable to civilization. A more sophisticated
treatment. Also, we might make a list of these laws, and see if any or all
of them are due to change with the coming of warmth - a transition from law
to grace?

Nutria