Nikhill Joshi

Period: 2
3 February 2017

War of the Worlds Zeitgeist

The War of the Worlds, written by H.G. Wells, is a British science fiction novel which

describes the adventures and journeys of a man whose town was overrun and invaded by

Martian aliens. The book was written in 1898 during the Victorian period of England, and the

seemingly simple theme of alien invasion dives deeper and represents the effects of ruthless

British imperialism and human fear. In addition, the story of War of the Worlds introduces a new

way of thinking and mindset which were influenced by the Industrial Revolution and the

progression of science.

of the Worlds depicts the adventures of a mans survival and

In its premise, The War

thoughts during an alien invasion. Living in a quiet and rather peaceful town, a strange,

meteor-like object suddenly crashes from the sky and unleashes a horde of squid-like aliens

that disintegrate people and wreak havoc on the land. The protagonist repeatedly describes the

inhumanities and cruelty that these Martians commit to the innocent people of his town, and

expresses his lack of hope in being saved or rescued by others. The very notion of being

invaded and stuck in a sense of helplessness as your land is being destroyed is extremely

reminiscent of the mindsets of the victims of British imperialism. In the era that this book was

written, Britain was the major colonial power of the world and spread its influence throughout

Africa and Asia. H.G. Wells was living during a time of British expansion and colonialism, and

his book War of the Worlds was intended to capture the essence of how British imperialism was

seen through the victims eyes. This deeper meaning and reference to British imperialism only

contributes to the esteemed literary merit of this book; although the theme of the book is directly

related to alien invasions, it delves much deeper into international politics and the ethics of

colonialism as a whole.
Nikhill Joshi
Period: 2
3 February 2017

Along with the main theme revolving around the unmerciful effects of British imperialism,

The War of the Worlds includes subtle references towards technology and the progression of

humanity as a race. The protagonist in the book is very straightforward and has a scientific

mind; he is aware of the aliens technological superiority and appreciates the destruction that it

can cause if one is not prepared. He remains very practical and composed during this entire

ordeal while his fellow neighbors begin to panic and call out to God for help. Not surprisingly,

those who sat back and placed all their faith in God without trying to fight back were wiped out;

the protagonist and a few others were able to survive because they saw a threat and they acted

upon it (Hawley, 2010). During this era of time, the Industrial Revolution had just finished and

technology around the world was starting to become more and more sophisticated. Machines

were becoming commonplace, weaponry became deadlier, and the need for visionary minds in

the world became stronger. In order to survive in this so-called New Age of technology, one

needed to have a progressive mind that could help create and innovate for the future. In a

sense, H.G. Wells compares the Martian invasion to the introduction of technology; without a

quick-thinking and dynamic mind, one will fall prey to the competitive world. H.G. Wells was

trying to communicate the fact that people need to adopt a more progressive, open-minded

mindset if they are to survive. If we sit back and are unwilling to adapt and act upon the future,

we will be consumed and cast away by these aliens.

Due to H.G. Wellss literary mastery and the inclusion of complex, sophisticated themes

in his book The War of the Worlds, I believe that this book deserves praise and merit. His work

not only captured the zeitgeist of Victorian England by describing the effects of international

politics, but it also helped inspire the people to change their mindsets and become more

adaptive, open-minded individuals.

Nikhill Joshi
Period: 2
3 February 2017

Works Cited

Hawley, Alex C. Revisiting H.G. Wells Depiction of Science and Religion in War of the Worlds.

Inquiries Journal, vol. 2, no. 3, 2010, pp. 1.