The Island of Doctor Moreau, Chapter 4 summary
Chapter 4 of 23 · 5 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 4, the schooner stops near Montgomery’s destination, and a nighttime conversation reveals his painful attachment to London and his belief that chance governs life. He withholds the cause of his exile, while his attendant’s pale green eyes frighten the narrator and deepen the mystery surrounding his companions.
What happens
- Land appears after sundown, and Montgomery identifies it as his destination while the mate commands the schooner.
- Montgomery asks about London, and the narrator wonders about his island, animals, and strange attendant.
- When the narrator offers thanks, Montgomery credits chance and mentions a brief lapse eleven years ago.
- Montgomery nearly shares his secret, but the narrator encourages him to keep it.
- The attendant’s pale green eyes briefly fill the narrator with childhood terror.
- The men go below, and moonlight, disturbing dreams, and howling staghounds interrupt the narrator’s sleep.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The question exposes his regret and sense of exclusion. It also introduces the unexplained incident he blames for his present circumstances.
Quick check
What briefly frightens the narrator about Montgomery’s attendant?
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