administration. In the novel, Wu explains to the tour group that, “We tend to refer to some of
[the dinosaurs] as male – such as the Tyrannosaurus rex; we all call it a ‘him’ – but in fact,
they’re all female” (Crichton 109). Wu and his peers do this to reconcile their hegemonic views
of masculinity – which culturally fetishize aggression and toughness as dominant traits
(Donaldson 644) – with female creatures that demonstrate the same traits. However, by
simultaneously demonstrating female identity and dangerous capability, the dinosaurs of Jurassic
Park challenge the conservative gender roles that preceded third-wave feminism. Besides the
Tyrannosaurus, the dinosaur species that most embodies this duality in the film is the
Velociraptor.
While Wu’s speech is not replicated in the film adaptation, it is noteworthy that most of the
characters only refer to the dinosaurs using gender-neutral pronouns, instead of explicitly
identifying the animals as female. The one exception to this rule is Robert Muldoon, Jurassic
Park’s game warden. Muldoon alone respects how dangerous and intelligent the park’s dinosaurs
are, particularly the Velociraptors, who arguably serve as the film’s primary antagonists. This
rivalry is established in Jurassic Park’s opening scene, where a Velociraptor kills one of
Muldoon’s subordinates during a transfer, despite Muldoon’s efforts to save him, resulting in a
longstanding grudge. Muldoon takes pride in his ability as a hunter but concedes that the
Velociraptors alone are worthy prey, as evidenced by his statement to Grant that “I’ve hunted
most things than can hunt you, but the way these things move…” Because the Velociraptors’
rival femininity challenges Muldoon’s societal position in Jurassic Park, he consequently wants
to destroy them for it, a desire he loudly airs over the course of the film. After the power failure
frees the Velociraptors, Muldoon seizes the opportunity to hunt down the dinosaurs and destroy
them, thus reestablishing his masculine dominance and securing his societal position. However,
the Velociraptors demonstrate their prowess by baiting Muldoon into a trap, ultimately cornering
him – Muldoon’s final line in the film, “Clever girl,” finally concedes the dinosaurs’ superiority
before he is killed.
Ultimately, after they are emancipated by the power failure, the dinosaurs hunt down and kill
the majority of the park’s administration. Hammond, who previously occupied the highest
position of power in the park, is forced to concede defeat and flees Isla Nublar with Grant,
Sattler, Malcolm and the remaining survivors, which leaves the dinosaurs in full control of the
island. One of the final scenes in Jurassic Park features the Tyrannosaurus roaring victoriously
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