1. Introduction
In this paper, I am going to explore the concept of evolution in H.G Well’s "The Time Machine”. This enormously successful and influential novel, first published in 1895, has been made into two movies in the twentieth century. The novel is generally credited with the concept of time travel using a vehicle which allows the user to explore the fourth dimension by going forward or backwards in time. On another level it is a critical view of the late nineteenth-century Victorian society, and an early masterpiece of dystopian writing. Historically considered, it is one of the first science fiction writings ever published. Wells himself called his work “scientific Romance” and the majority of reviewers at the time used the term, too. “The Time Machine” was later seen by literary historians as having laid the path for modern science fiction writing. Moreover, the novel utters a sharp criticism of the decadence of the bourgeoisie and provides a critical perspective on the growing gap between upper and lower class in Wells’ own time. The main themes and leitmotifs are very ambiguous. The plot illustrates how a typical utopian paradise turns into a dark dystopian vision of a remote future for mankind.
In the first part of my paper, the focus lies on the novel’s structure as well as on the specific literary devices employed. This includes the narrative frame, interesting aspects of the narration and the protagonist, who is simply, yet amply named “The Time Traveller” and an overview of the extraordinary structures of time and place....
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literary structure
2.1 Function of the Narrative frame
2.2 The Narrators
2.3 The Protagonist: Time Traveller
2.4 Structure of Time and Place
3. Historical Background
3.1 Eloi vs. Morlocks image of a late nineteenth-century class struggle
4. Eloi and Morlocks – Failures of Evolution?
4.1 Social Darwinism
5. Summary
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to explore the concept of evolution and social criticism in H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine," analyzing how the novel reflects Victorian class struggles and misinterpretations of Darwinian theory. The research investigates the narrative structure, the symbolic representation of the Eloi and Morlocks, and the author's critical perspective on the decadence of the bourgeoisie.
- Analysis of literary devices and the narrative frame in "The Time Machine."
- Evaluation of the protagonist as a representative of the Victorian upper-class.
- Examination of the Eloi and Morlocks as symbols of late nineteenth-century class struggle.
- Critique of Social Darwinism and the theme of evolutionary retrogression.
- Biographical connections between H.G. Wells and the themes of his novel.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Eloi vs. Morlocks: Image of a late nineteenth-century class struggle
“Eloi” and “Morlocks” can be seen as the remote descendants of the two major classes in Wells’ time.
As the Time Traveller theorizes, the working class has been pushed underground for so long that it has evolved into a distinct, nocturnal species. Wells was obviously referring to the fate of coalmine-workers in his own time. A state on an “internet message board” about the “Time Machine” points out that the tale was written shortly after the London-Metropolitan-Railway had expanded to the “deeper levels” (The first "deep-level" electrically operated line, the City & South London Railway, now part of the Northern Line, opened in 1890). The miserable working-conditions and the image of complex underground-tubes may have inspired Wells` image of the Morlocks’ living conditions. The Time Traveller himself is contemplating in a “stream of consciousness” about the proclivity of the Working-Class, to be kept underground:
“There is a tendency to utilise the underground space for the less ornamental purposes of civilisations; there is the Metropolitan Railway in London, for instance, […] Evidently I thought, this tendency had increased till Industry had gradually lost its birthright in the sky I mean that it had gone deeper and deeper into larger and ever larger underground factories, spending a still increasing amount of it's time therein, till, in the end -! Even now does not an East-end worker live in such artificial conditions as practically to be cut off from the natural surface of the earth.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, identifying the novel as a foundational work of science fiction that critiques Victorian social structures and concepts of evolution.
2. Literary structure: Examines the narrative frame, the role of the two narrators, the characterization of the Time Traveller, and the unique setting of the novel.
3. Historical Background: Discusses the influence of Wells’ socialist background and the industrial conditions of the late nineteenth century on the novel’s depiction of class conflict.
4. Eloi and Morlocks – Failures of Evolution?: Analyzes how the novel adapts and subverts Darwinian evolutionary theories, portraying the two species as evidence of biological and social degeneration.
5. Summary: Concludes the analysis by reflecting on the novel’s intellectual complexity and its enduring relevance despite its historical context.
6. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources used in the paper, including critical essays and online resources.
Keywords
H.G. Wells, The Time Machine, Evolution, Social Darwinism, Class Struggle, Eloi, Morlocks, Victorian Society, Science Fiction, Degeneration, Dystopia, Narrative Structure, Labour, Industrial Revolution, Literature
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the concept of evolution in H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" and how it serves as a critical mirror of Victorian society and class dynamics.
Which thematic fields are central to the study?
The central fields include literary analysis, historical criticism, evolutionary biology as interpreted in literature, and the sociopolitical views of H.G. Wells.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The goal is to demonstrate how Wells used the fantastic premise of time travel to critique the growing gap between the upper and lower classes during the late nineteenth century.
Which scientific or critical methods are applied?
The author employs literary analysis, biographical research, and comparative analysis of evolutionary theories, specifically focusing on the concept of Social Darwinism.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body analyzes the narrative frame, the nature of the narrators, the protagonist’s role, the historical context of the industrial era, and the biological retrogression of the Eloi and Morlocks.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include H.G. Wells, The Time Machine, Social Darwinism, class struggle, Victorian society, and evolutionary retrogression.
How does the author interpret the relationship between the Eloi and the Morlocks?
The author interprets this relationship not as a revolutionary conflict, but as a permanent, symbiotic, yet degenerative state where the upper class has become physically weak and the working class has become a nocturnal, subterranean species.
Why does the paper argue that the Time Traveller is an unreliable narrator?
The paper suggests he is unreliable because his narrative is delivered second-hand, years after the events, and his perspective is inherently limited and influenced by his own subjective experiences and scientific background.
- Citar trabajo
- Kay Mankus (Autor), 2006, H.G. Wells’ „The Time Machine" in Terms of "Victorian Class Struggle" and "Evolution", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182351
