H.G. WELLS H.G. WELLS ACTIVIST FOR HIS TIME AND OURSACTIVIST FOR HIS TIME AND OURS

H.G. WELLS author/activistH.G. WELLS author/activist

Herbert George Wells is thought to be the founder of modern science fiction. While much of his literature is steeped in science there are also political undertones that did not sit well with the “establishment”. Many of these undertones are just as relevant today as they were in the early 1900s.

THE TIME THE TIME MACHINEMACHINE

LAZINESS

GREED

““The Time Machine”The Time Machine”The Time Machine is a call to be weary of

the power and greed of capitalism. The Time Traveler after arriving in the future finds two civilizations; the Morlocks and the Eloi.

The Morlocks represent the lower class society and the Elois the upper class society.

The Time Traveler theorizes that the lower class society (the Morlocks were forced underground by the Eloi and move only during the night.

Meanwhile, the upper class (the Eloi) have flourished above ground but become victims of their own dependence on amenities and have become lazy.

The Time Machine Cont.The Time Machine Cont.After the Morlocks run out of food

they are forced to hunt down the Eloi and breed them for food.

This seems to represent a natural shift. The Morlocks being left without any resources are forced to take drastic measures in order to ensure their survival.

Relevance TodayRelevance TodayToday, many people feel alienated

and victimized by the greed that is associated with capitalism.

Today’s economic climate seems to have originated from corporate and individual greed that Wells expresses in this book.

Additionally, the gap between the rich and middle class and even the poor and the middle class continues to widen at an accelerated rate.

THE WAR OF THE THE WAR OF THE WORLDSWORLDS

IMPERIALI

SM

““The War of the Worlds”The War of the Worlds”“The War of the Worlds” is a

representation of H.G. Wells stand against Imperialism.

In the book Martians invade Earth after their own planet becomes uninhabitable.

After arriving on Earth the Martians begin to destroy any humans they see and begin their conquest of the planet.

As all attempts to defeat the Martians seem futile, people become hopeless and downtrodden.

““The War of the Worlds” The War of the Worlds” Cont.Cont.People’s spirits seem broken and all

seems loss as the Martians expand their empire and destruction.

When civilization itself seems to be coming to an end the Martians begin dying without warning or provocation.

A common bacteria that humans have an immunity to is the cause of the Martian deaths and the invasion is stopped.

Life returns to normal.

RELEVANCE TODAYRELEVANCE TODAYAt the time H.G. Wells wrote “War

of the Worlds” he was criticizing English Imperialism.

In this day and age it is likely that Wells would make the same argument about American “Imperialism” as well.

Critics of the U.S. government make the argument that expansion of U.S. ideas and interests is imperialism.

They also use the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to support those ideas.

The Island of Dr. MoreauThe Island of Dr. Moreau

PLAYING GOD

WEALTH GAP

““The Island of Dr. Moreau”The Island of Dr. Moreau”“The Island of Dr. Moreau” is a clear

warning from Wells about the dangers of the progress of science. How far will we really go to gain perfection?

Edward Prendick finds himself on an Island belonging to Doctor Moreau, who is conducting experiments vivisecting animals to transform them into human form.

Moreau has created an Island full of these manlike creatures who have developed a civilization.

““The Island of Dr. Moreau” The Island of Dr. Moreau” Cont.Cont.As Prendick continues life on the

Island he begins to realize the inhumanity of Moreau’s experiments.

Moreau presents himself as a God to his creations and continues his experiments with coldness and an unrelenting realization of his actions.

After turmoil befalls the island and leads to the death of Moreau, Prendick eventually escapes the island and returns home.

RELEVANCE TODAYRELEVANCE TODAYDuring our era we have begun to see

amazing results in scientific experimentation, from stem cell research to cloning.

But with those amazing results there is an extra need for responsibility. Wells’ message clearly states that there is a danger when trying to play God.

Additionally Wells injects his ideas of class by using the relationship between Prendick and the Beast Men. A man of upper class standing and a society of have nots.

Wells’ Impact TodayWells’ Impact TodayAs we look at the ideas preached by

H.G. Wells during the early 1900s it is amazing just how much can be applied today.

His ideas against the dangers of greed in capitalism, imperialism and the social impact of the widening gap between upper and middle classes are the very ideas that consume our society today.

As our economic downturn continues it is difficult to not see exactly what Wells is trying to tell us.