Aakash Japi

4/22/2013

H.G. Wells, within his novel The Time Machine, displays a chimerical and imaginative plot with a scientific undertone, incorporating many contemporary scientific theories and concepts to further his standing as the pioneer of the science fiction genre. The Time Machine is founded upon the abstract premise and theme of time travel, by using the fourth dimension, an idea unfathomable to Victorian readers at the time, as well as modern scientists. This concept stretches the boundaries of rationalism, and its integration into a fictional fantasy shows the science fiction roots of H.G. Wells. Science fiction novels have gargantuan advances within science and technology, and the creation of plausible time travel is an unprecedented innovation in society. This concept of time travel is integral in the progression of the speculative, chimerical plot, and its incorporation shows how The Time Machine is science fiction. A fictional, speculative novel is able to retain an element of science, exemplifying the true meaning of science fiction. In addition, the motif of entropy, the belief that all systems, without regard to their current state, decay into ultimate disorder and chaos, is evident throughout the novel. This is seen in the character and true nature of the Eloi, the futuristic upper-class of the year 802,701, which has degenerated into unintelligence and idiocy. The Eloi display the decay of a bold and powerful mankind into a cowardly and fearful race, and this exemplifies entropy, and science fiction. By integrating an abstract scientific concept into his novel, Wells is able to ground The Time Machine as a science fiction, because it combines a major scientific theory with a fantastic and imaginative plot. Furthermore, the Time Traveler also comments upon the theory of Evolution, because the Eloi are truly not the fit creatures to survive. He incorporates a cowardly and weak race to show that all changes in a species are not beneficial to survival, reproduction, and becoming most fit, and uses entropy to op pose Evolution. His social commentary against evolution is an instance of a scientific undertone within a fantasy plot, further defining The Time Machine as a Science Fiction novel.

Aakash Japi

4/22/2013

Within the novella The Time Machine, H.G. Wells uses the Eloi and the Morlocks, races of his fictional world of 802,701, to create a subtle critique of industrialized Englands capitalist regime, by maintaining a Marxist, or socialist undercurrent throughout. The Eloi are characterized as the Bourgeoisie of Wells world; the y live a life of luxury, forcing the Morlocks to slog in underground factories, and they represent the aristocrats, the rich of England. The Morlocks represent the proletariat or the destitute factory laborers of society that make up the work force of Victorian England. The Morlocks are beginning to understand their strength, being the economic lifeblood, or becoming class conscious, while the Eloi are continually growing afraid, the ideal conditions of a class struggle. This comments upon the future of Capitalism, by creating small elite, and a subservient working majority, a thoroughly Marxist prediction, and shows the socialist orientation of Wells. Because the Time Machine is incapable of spatial movement, this, in Wells view, is the true result of Ca pitalism and free market, and he urges the reader to prevent. Wells displays that the only result of industrialization is a class struggle, a war between two separate worlds, and catastrophe unless the world turns to Marxist socialism. In addition, the author also displays a sense of social inequality, and an ingrown ethnocentrism within the Time Travelers character. For instance, the Time Traveler constantly aligns himself with the Eloi, or the upper-class, and he is utterly repulsed by the barbaric Morlocks, something that seems almost natural, because he is an upper-classmen of England. This sympathy towards to bourgeoisie, or the corrupted elite, also comments upon Wells perspective of Victorian England, and capitalism, Wells believes that social ineq uality has become the norm in England, forcing the proletariat to work endlessly, while the corrupt wealthy rest, and he is advocating socialism, by displaying the result of this. He ironically combines two worlds, an industrialized England where capitalism is at its peak, and a fictional future, where class struggles threaten to destroy free market, showing the futility of capitalism, and how it leads to conflict and inequality. Morlocks have even lost their right to the sky, to the sun, and he warns the reader of the dangers of continuing a capitalist world. Wells believes that socialism would maintain stability and order, and prevent England from entering this downward spiral of inequality and injustice.

Aakash Japi

4/22/2013

H.G. Wells, in his novella The Time Machine, pioneers the concept of scientific time travel, and creates an invigorating story, incorporating divine intervention, a descent into the underworld, and a journey into our future, that define it as an epic. Within the novel, the time traveler has an unfathomable voyage of majestic proportions; a journey into the future of Victorian England. The time traveler uses his time machine as a vehicle for an epic journey, traversing multiple eras, time periods, and surpassing the extent of human civilization and viewing its descendents. This journey travels beyond the now, and is a true example of an epic journey, because even though spatial movement is nonexistent, the time travelers voyage encompasses entire eras, entire civilizations and peoples, and outstrips the human race. It hundreds of thousands of years, from Victorian England to the year 802,701, and brings rise to a new species, and a new people. His journey brings him to the end of the world, and because of its vastness, and its sheer length, it qualifies as a true epic journey. In addition, a sphinx statue in which the time travelers time machine is held after being stolen acts as divine intervention, or the act of the gods. The Sphinx is a symbol from ancient Egypt (the Sphinx of Ra), and it represents religion, and God, and symbolizes the time travelers woes. It bars him from his escape to his own time, serving as a literal barrier, and a figurative barrier as well, being the same Sphinx that stopped Oedipus Rex in his journey to save Thebes. It symbolizes a belief that his held throughout time, and it preventing him from reaching his machine shows a disapproval of the gods of time travel. Time is believed to be a concept controlled by God, by a supernatural entity, and his interference with godly creations is not appreciated. It may even be the reason the Eloi, the descendents of mankind degenerated, because the time travelers intelligence allowed him to change what was believed to be a god-created constant. Finally, the time travelers descent into the Mor lock underworld also exemplifies the epic nature of The Time Machine, because it is an act of valor, of courage, of bravery, a staple of an epic. The time traveler did what the Eloi were mortified of; he entered the morlock underground, and survived. He was unequipped, and unfit, yet he still descended, showing his courage, and bravery, and displaying how The Time Machine is a novella of epic proportions.