The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

The Mysterious Island
Week 3 (July 1 - 7) Part 2, Chapters 1 - 11

1) So far, through the beginning half of Part 2, we do not have an explanation for a bullet in a rabbit that is about three months old. It's a mystery given the group has been there for seven months and have found no evidence of other humans on the island. What do you think the explanation is?

2) The chest that washed up on shore, the finding of the balloon, and the whale carcass were unforeseen Godsends for the group and solved a lot of the issues (lack of proper tools, guns, material for clothes, oil for lamps, etc.) Do you see any drawbacks to having found these items? I feel like the discovery has freed up the castaways in order for them to focus on other aspects of their existence (preparing for winter and building a boat.) What is your take?

3) Speaking of boat building, it seems like we might be seeing the first disagreement brewing between members of the group. Pencroft is building a boat and seems to believe he can find another island (identified on the atlas found in the chest) and wants to take Herbert with him while Harding doesn't understand his desire to travel to an island that is known to have far fewer resources. He is also concerned that something might happen to Herbert. They have tabled the discussion but what do you think is going to come of this? If there is a big disagreement, how will this affect the group?

4) The appearance of the orangutans and the eventual capture of Jup was interesting. I was unaware that orangutans could be trained to do household chores. I read a bit about orangutans and this has some truth to it. Apparently, in the modern day, orangutans can be taught sign language, communicate via an iPad, and be trained to do basic chores. Here is a quote I came across, "In the 21st century, a growing campaign in the West has argued that orangutans and other great apes should be given qualified ‘non-human’ rights. The campaign focuses on protecting great apes from being held in captivity (in zoos and circuses) and from being used in medical experiments. This call is for rights going beyond humane treatment for all animals and beyond the protection of great apes in the name of conservation." What are your thoughts on Jup? Should they be keeping him? When in the wild he did not desert the group. If they had allowed him to leave initially, do you think he would have come back and been destructive?

Gem wrote: "What are your thoughts on Jup? Should they be keeping him? When in the wild he did not desert the group. If they had allowed him to leave initially, do you think he would have come back and been destructive?"

My thoughts on Jup is that he is a traitor to his breed. By sending a ladder to the humans, he was aiding those who were slaughtering his fellow orangutans. And why were the humans slaughtering them? Because they happened to be inhabiting a cave that the humans had seemingly abandoned. Merely the crime of squatting, which in many circumstances can be a right not a crime. I don't remember any orangutan attacking a human.
As it's the 4th of July, I would say that Jup is a real Benedict Arnold.

I wondered what they meant by the island being "lost" if it was noted on the map and expected to be in its place. And a bit worried about Jup. Sometimes wild animals go back to their wild nature after being among humans for a while. I did see the chest washing up, and the whale, as being a little too convenient.

Brian E wrote: "My thoughts on Jup is that he is a traitor to his breed. By sending a ladder to the humans, he was aiding those who were slaughtering his fellow orangutans. And why were the humans slaughtering them? Because they happened to be inhabiting a cave that the humans had seemingly abandoned. Merely the crime of squatting, which in many circumstances can be a right not a crime. I don't remember any orangutan attacking a human.
As it's the 4th of July, I would say that Jup is a real Benedict Arnold."

I had not thought of it that way.

As I read this book, I’m trying to remember that slaughtering large numbers of animals which were not used for food or clothing was thought of very differently in the 19th century. Still bothers me, I must admit. As for the adventures of the men, I still long for less narrative and more action. I also agree that there are things that ring a little too convenient and unlikely. I’ll stick with the reading because I do want to know the final fate of the men - at least Verne has me intrigued there!

Gem wrote: "Brian E wrote: "As it's the 4th of July, I would say that Jup is a real Benedict Arnold."

I had not thought of it that way ..."

Well I did and I'm not really much of an animal rights activist. But it doesn't bother me that the book portrays Jupiter's sucking up to the humans who are slaughtering his breedmates as making him a good orangutan to 19th Century society.
One of the things I enjoy about reading 19th Century fiction is observing the differing cultural mores between then and now.
I'm not judgmental about these characters' attitudes as I realize that I'd likely have similar views if I lived back then but I do admit to often feeling more smugly self-satisfied about my own attitudes and mores.

The whole episode of the orangutans was omitted from the version I read in childhood, and have no idea whether it was simply a decision to omit what was extraneous to shorten it, or discomfort with slaughtering animals.

This time around I found it disturbing for a reason not, I think, considered here. A group of orangutans carrying out a joint endeavor is dubious, not because they aren’t very intelligent (they are), but because they are the most solitary of great apes, and don’t live in groups.

On the other hand, their geographic locale here is so exotic that one is tempted to forgive Verne’s misconception, and postulate a new species or subspecies which IS social.