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Sarah Whitney-Havlicak

Ms. Noyce

English 9, B5

27 March, 2018

Insolence Towards Nature

Many science fiction novels have hidden meanings and warnings within them. Sci-fi

novels are written with the purpose of challenging and perhaps changing some aspect of

society. Additionally, readers can see the authors of sci-fi novels advocate for change in a

behavior or attitude towards a common or predicted problem. Readers can see a similar hidden

purpose in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park. Throughout the book, Crichton uses characters to

clearly express that humans believe they have the right to control nature. He proposes a

solution later in the book that all people should treat nature and life with respect and humility.

One subject that Crichton discusses and seemingly wishes to modify is how humans

believe they control nature. Two of the main characters at the park, John Hammond and Henry

Wu, show controlling qualities over the animals at the park. When talking about the dinosaurs,

Wu’s controlling nature is exposed when he says, “They are not free at all. They are essentially

our prisoners” (Crichton 127). The author purposely uses the word prisoner to provoke an

illusion of power and ownership for the readers as well as for the characters that run the park

themselves. When people hear the word prisoner they think of confined and controlled bodies,

which is what the park wants to be seen as. Dr. Wu sees these creatures at little more than
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pairs of nucleotides and genetic sequences, not deserving of any respect other than respect

given only because of their expensive value. Crichton describes the scientists at the park

treating the dinosaurs like controlled lab experiments, when nothing about the dinosaurs is

controlled.

Hammond shows a similar controlling attribute when talking with Wu in his cottage.

Hammond becomes agitated with Wu’s remarks about lawsuits and lawyers when he spits out:

“This is my island. I own it” (Crichton 226). He shows a need of control and a blatant disrespect

towards life with his possessive statement. He doesn’t care how there is something living and

breathing on Isla Neblar but rather that he gains the profit from the park. He makes it clear to

Wu how no one else can claim the park but himself, that the dinosaurs are just money maker,

just entertainment. Hammond treats the dinosaurs like puppets he can play with as if they are

under his complete control. Crichton is trying to communicate through Hammond that greed

for money and power with leave you devoid of true respect and humility towards other living

beings.

Crichton is attempting to show how nature is treated unjustly and unfairly and he wants

people to respect the earth. One person that respects nature and the power of life is Ian

Malcolm: “My point is that life on earth can take care of itself . . . this planet lives and breathes

on a much vaster scale . . . if we are gone tomorrow, the Earth will not miss us” (Crichton 413).

Ian Malcolm shows respect for the earth and with his statement he humbles Hammond and his

egotistical nature. Malcolm’s point is that because humans think they tower over other

creatures with their advanced tools and technology, that they think nature is beneath them and
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not worth of a fleeting thought. Crichton wants the human race to take on a persona of

Malcolm and respect this everlasting flow of natural life and death.

With his book Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton uses founder of the park, John Hammond,

and the park’s chief geneticist, Henry Wu, to portray the abrasive quality of superiority over the

natural world. He then gives readers a more practical character to counteract the superiority

with respect in the form of Ian Malcolm. Wu’s undignified comments on the treatments of

dinosaurs prove false assurance of control. Hammond’s sharp tone and precise sentences make

it clear that he expects these ancient creatures to heed his every word. A piece of Malcolm’s

last rant shows the arrogance of the human race and perhaps shows a solution to overcome the

arrogance.