O'Brien has stated that, "The mind learns that it is not easy to separate good from bad; they become deviously intertwined. From books [one] learns that not all doors are simply open or shut, and that even rats can become heroes." The novel depicts uses of science and knowledge, yet science is presented neither as all good nor all bad. While Nicodemus tells of the pain of scientific experimentation on animals, neither the scientists nor science itself is seen as evil. Dr. Schultz is criticized because he does not know the implications of the experiments, yet he is not inherently evil; when he holds the rats, he does so "gently but firmly." Mr. Ages is a type of doctor, who helps save Timothy's life with medicines. Moving Mrs. Frisby's home is only accomplished because the rats have knowledge that other animals do not have. The Plan...