Write about the Novel 'The Time Machine' by H. G. Wells.

English coursework – The Time Machine

Task 1: -

Write about the Novel ‘The Time Machine’ by H. G. Wells.

What Happens?
What characters did you like and why?
Did you think it was written well?
Did you think it was a good book to study? If so Why?

The Time Machine was written in the year 1895 by H.G. Wells, a well known and loved author who is considered by many to be the "father" of modern science fiction. This is because a large amount of his novels are based on storylines involving scientific processes, or new scientific understanding. The Time Machine was written in both 1st and 3rd person and contains complicated vocabulary therefore is aimed at an adult audience.

The book itself is written about a man, (who is referred to in the book as ‘The Time Traveler’) who discovers the secret of the forth dimension of space, time. He discusses with his friends his theories of time travel, and tests them out with a time machine, on which he travels forward in time to the year 802701. Where we learn about the future generation and the similarities and differences between them and us, and the different social classes.

However the book explores deeper issues and ideas, it puts forward the idea of a society based on communism, and expresses H.G. Wells views and opinions of life. I think it is also written to shock the readers, and give a warning to humanity that this was their fate. I think this because at the time the book was written there was a strong sense of classes, and the community was divided up into three classes, the Aristocracy, the gentry, and the working class, but there was a particularly strong feeling between the Aristocracy and the working class, because there was such a big difference between them. The Aristocracy were very much in charge of the working class and treated them like vermin. In the book (‘The Time Machine’) H. G. Wells puts forward his views on Social classes and their power and makes it so that there is a change in social positions. Where the Aristocracy, who are referred to as ‘the Eloi’ in the book here ruled by the Working class referred to as ‘The Morlocks’. H.G. Wells does this by introducing two different species into the book, which we meet during the Time Traveller’s travels. These two species were the Eloi and the Morlocks. These species are very important to the book as they put forward a lot of H.G. Well’s opinions about social positions and how he would like life to be. H.G. Wells uses these two species to show the changes of social positions with the Aristocracy and working class. He spends much of his time expounding upon their characteristics and attitudes; using lots of similes “She was exactly like a child”. This helps explain the similarities between today’s generation and the future generation. I think H.G. Well’s idea is that the Aristocracy evolve into these “weak and little, childlike creatures” unable to do anything for themselves and hopelessly weak and flimsy. Whereas the working class develop into these “brutish” ‘Morlocks’ who are in charge of and feed on the ‘Eloi’.

The idea is that the Eloi were once in charge (like the Aristocracy) and that the Morlocks were their “mechanical servants” (like the working class were to the Aristocracy). Then the Morlocks grew strength and became stronger then the Eloi therefore resulting in reverse positions.

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I think H.G. Wells might have done this because he himself was in the working class (being an author) and felt that the Aristocracy trod all over them (so to speak). He wanted to see a change in Social Positions and the Working Class getting back at the Aristocracy for everything they had done. I also noticed that all the characters in the book apart from the ‘Eloi’ and the ‘Morlocks’ were Working class and this might have had something to do with it.

There are a lot of different characters and characteristics in the play, there are those who are unbelieving, those who are curious, and even those who seem to hide their character and view. I particularly liked the character of the time traveller, because he was a very stereotypical scientist in lots of ways yet not stereotypical in other ways. I think this was a good effect because it has some of aspects of as stereotypical scientist in it (how we imagine them to be) yet, it also had other features which we would not expect making it believable. He was stereotypical in the way he was old and intelligent. This is suggested by his invention and explanations as well as the description that he “shuffled with his hands deep in his trouser pockets” and “smiled faintly”. This shows that perhaps he isn’t as strong as he used to be and that he is getting a little bit older. However unlike the stereotypical scientist he did not appear to be crazy and seemed to have his full wits about him. I found his character very descriptive and I noticed he was always quite alert to his surroundings

“Father away towards the dimness, it appeared to be broken by a number of small footsteps. My sense of the immediate presence of the Morlocks revived at that”.

This might suggest that he is untrusting of many things and always thinks that something bad is going to happen to him, so he is always alert to his surroundings. It also gives me the feeling that he is quite jumpy and could become paranoid over the smallest of sounds.

I think I particularly liked the way he (‘The Time Traveller’) described things. In particular the ‘Eloi’.

“Their hair, which was uniformly curly, came to a sharp end at their neck and cheek; there was not the faintest suggestion of it on their face and their ears where singularly minute. The mouths were small, with bright red, rather thin lips, and their little chins ran to a point…”

I particularly like this because it’s so descriptive and really paints a picture of what the ‘Eloi’ look like. It also goes back to the idea that he is taking in a lot of his surroundings with the fact that he notices that they don’t have any hair on their faces, this is something you probably wouldn’t noticed inless you were very alert.

I think ‘The Time Machine’ is a well written and thought out book, and it contains lots of descriptive language, which helps to develop your own descriptive language and encourages you to give descriptive writing a go. It is also in my opinion a good book to study because it increases your vocabulary and the ways in which you use it as well as your level of understanding. It discusses matters, which are difficult to explain, and leaves us thinking.

I also found it brings up some deep questions which we are unable to answer things like where are we heading? What is it going to be like in the end? and, Will the things we do today have an impact on the future?