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M’ling / The Strange-Looking Man
The Sayer of the Law is a sort of priest amongst the Beast Folk, the religious leader responsible for teaching the Law and venerating its commandments. Upon Prendick’s initial arrival in the Beast Folk’s community in the ravine, he is mistaken for one of Moreau’s creations and the Sayer of the Law instructs him in the ways he should act and how he must resist his animalistic desires. After Moreau dies, the Sayer of the Law is one of the first to ask Prendick if the Law has died with him, implicitly understanding the connection between Moreau’s authority and his own as the religious leader. When Montgomery gets the Beast Folk drunk with him after the death of Moreau, the Sayer of the Law kills him on the beach and is killed himself. This is symbolically fitting: the religious leader of the Beast Folk—and thus, the most aspirational to be human—dies in combat with the most degenerate human, who was the closest to regressing to the state of an animal.
The Sayer of the Law Quotes in The Island of Dr. Moreau
The The Island of Dr. Moreau quotes below are all either spoken by The Sayer of the Law or refer to The Sayer of the Law. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 12
Quotes
“For every one the want that is bad,” said the grey Sayer of the Law. “What you will want, we do not know. We shall know. Some want to follow things that move, to watch and slink and wait and spring, to kill and bite, deep and rich, sucking the blood…It is bad. ‘Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men?’”
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Chapter 18
Quotes
“Children of the Law,” I said, “He is not dead…he has changed his shape—he has changed his body,” I went on. “For a time you will not see him. He is…there”—I pointed upward— “where he can watch you. You cannot see him. But he can see you. Fear the Law.”
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The Sayer of the Law Quotes in The Island of Dr. Moreau
The The Island of Dr. Moreau quotes below are all either spoken by The Sayer of the Law or refer to The Sayer of the Law. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 12
Quotes
“For every one the want that is bad,” said the grey Sayer of the Law. “What you will want, we do not know. We shall know. Some want to follow things that move, to watch and slink and wait and spring, to kill and bite, deep and rich, sucking the blood…It is bad. ‘Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men?’”
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Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock explanations and citation info for this and every other The Island of Dr. Moreau quote.
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Chapter 18
Quotes
“Children of the Law,” I said, “He is not dead…he has changed his shape—he has changed his body,” I went on. “For a time you will not see him. He is…there”—I pointed upward— “where he can watch you. You cannot see him. But he can see you. Fear the Law.”
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