The Wild Child demonstrates the transition from the state of nature to society by a young boy called Victor. Victor is found living alone in the woods like an animal – walking on his hands and feet, sleeping in the leaves, eating natural berries or nuts and having no capability or need of speaking. Although this life seems savage to the civilized people, Victor is living a simple and happy life because that is all he has ever known, much like the savage life depicted by Rousseau's state of nature. Many people show interest in Victor's unique situation and he is soon shipped off to Paris to be observed by Dr. Itard. The Dr. wants to evaluate Victor and see if he can improve his education. Victor begins walking upright, eating and becoming aware of the utility for clothing. Eventually Victor begins showing more emotions and reacts to punishment, which he previously did not exhibit. This displays the type of self-love discussed by Rousseau that man acquires only after realizing how others view him. Victor shows that he wants to be valued by the Dr. and is ashamed when he is punished. The Dr. symbolizes a type of Hobbes' all-powerful Leviathan for Victor because there is fear of his punishment if Victor does not follow the rules. The Dr. wants to test Victor's understanding of just and unjust. He believes if he punishes Victor unjustly and he rebels, it will show his understanding of justice. Victor does fight back when the Dr. attempts to put him in the closet after Victor responded correctly. The Dr. thinks Victor understands justice and the morality of actions. Near the end of the film, Victor runs away – returning to his beloved state of nature. After searching for Victor and waiting to hear anything of his whereabouts, the Dr. believes he is gone forever. To the Dr.'s surprise, Victor returns. Whether Victor returned because of his need for food or his need of affection is debatable. Did Victor become accustomed to the civilized way of life and lose his ability to live in the wild? Or did Victor find himself lonely and wanting the affection he can only gain from others? In the state of nature, Victor had very little needs and only looked out for his own self-preservation, similar to Rousseau's state of nature. Unlike Hobbes state of nature, Victor did not have any possessions or an innate fear of punishment because he had no knowledge of this previous to becoming socialized with others. Victor made the transition into society, therefore becoming aware of the material things and views of others that corrupted his state of nature and ability to ever live that way again.
Review of The Wild Child
