Jurassic Park Themes

As he attempts to create a theme park of dinosaurs resurrected from the deep past, John Hammond believes that, because he owns the island and has paid for the technological advances made in its genetics lab, he can command nature itself. But the lessons of natural history, especially as chaos theory interprets it, suggest that very little lies within human control, and the book explores the unintended or unexpected consequences that can arise from humankind’s…

For many people in Jurassic Park, seeing isn’t believing. Sometimes external sources cloud the picture, like the literal fog and mist that shroud John Hammond’s island or his attempts to locate the park beyond the sight of his investors, regulatory bodies, and governments. At other times, people see what they want to, ignoring the evident truth when it contradicts their beliefs or hopes. For example, Dr. Guitierrez discounts the observant Tina’s drawing…

Jurassic Park explores the breathtaking capability of technology to recreate the world around us, but the novel also warns that technology is only as good or bad as the ends to which humans direct it. The story takes place in 1989, during a scientific gold rush. Ground-penetrating scanners are revolutionizing paleontological research, allowing scientists like Drs. Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler to find and explore fossils without lengthy excavations. DNA analysis allows them to identify…