However, Wells does not take any simplistic point of view about the goodness of humans and the evil of Martians. Therefore although the Martians see humans as “inferior animals” Wells also criticises humans for destroying other humans, such as the Tasmanians. Wells criticises humans for underestimating the intelligence of Martians (“with infinite complacency men went to and fro”).
Wells contrasts the two planets very cleverly. Earth is “lush and green” whereas Mars is dying. This has caused the Martians to “harden their hearts” and look at Earth with “envious eyes”.
Wells use of simile increases our pain as the cylinder “sticking into Earth” is described as a “poisoned dart” into a human’s skin. He uses vivid imagery to show that human organs are in peril by comparing war with illness. He invents gas warfare and calls it “the fever of war that would clog vein and artery, deaden nerve and destroy brain”.
Time and again Wells uses different dramatic devices. After each horrific event he brings a period of calm. He contrasts extraordinary events with the commonplace. When the cylinder arrives, he shows the quiet before the storm, describing the countryside as “wonderfully still…no bird sound…all alone”. This is all very unsettling. Later, after the Heat Ray massacre the narrator returns home and sits at his dinner table drinking wine. Other people go about their normal business “dining and supping, gardening, putting children to bed…as though no planet Mars existed…” But each time he introduces a sinister element. Here he tells us that humans are all “like a dodo awaiting its death”. He also uses vivid descriptions and colours to unsettle the reader. The crowd standing around the pit is described as “standing black against the lemon-yellow of the sky”.
Progressively Wells increases the threat from the aliens by adding to their arsenal of weapons. He begins with the alien cylinder which leads to the release of a giant Heat Ray. He then introduces the tripods which are brilliantly described as “walking engines of glittering metal” and “vast spider-like machines nearly 100 foot high, capable of express train speed, and able to shoot intense heat beams, with tentacles”. These are followed by gas shells which contain “a heavy inky vapour”. The Martians are able to communicate by “siren-like howls”. As the book progresses the horror intensifies as he describes in detail what they look like, how they feed and what they feed on (the blood of humans using a pipette).
Wells uses interesting methods to provide us with the overall perspective and sweep of the carnage. He gives us reported narrative from the point of view of three other characters – Ogilvy the astronomer, his brother in London to provide the full London dimension, and the artillery man. The latter narrates how his platoon was wiped out by “huge black shapes, grotesque and strange…” and the soldier “lying under a heap of charred dead men and horses…” Wells attacks all the readers’ senses as the soldier reports that the smell was like “burnt meat”.
Wells uses a number of different forms in telling the story, for instance when explaining the workings of the tripod, the handling machine and the biology of the Martians (“dissection has shown…the brain was the greatest part, sending nerves to the eyes…”). Some of this is like a scientific text book.
At other times he quotes from newspapers, science magazines and refers to actual scientists to make his story appear to be non-fiction. This makes it more real and therefore more terrifying (“about 7 O’clock last night the Martians came out of the cylinder…Woking Station completely wrecked…Cardigan Regiment battalion massacred”). These are like news headlines.
The events take place at the end of the 19th century but Wells writes his book as if it is later on in the 20th century.
Wells wrote in the Victorian era, and Victorian thinking, scientific knowledge, ideas, prejudices and transport fill the book. About 3 years before the book was written there was the 1894 Opposition, i.e. when Earth and Mars were at their closest. Victorian society had a lot of interest in Mars at the time. Victorian society also thought that Mars was cooling and becoming extinct. Wells mentions scholars of the time (Schiaparelli and Prof. Howes), scientific journals, 2 laboratories which had been opened recently (Lick and Nice). Wells even refers in the book to a serialisation of his novel that had taken place the year before and criticizes the drawings (Pearson’s magazine in Book 2 Chapter 2).
All the machinery is of the Victorian era- the Midland, Northern, and North-Western Railway companies, old steamships, the ironclad warship Thunder Child, horse and cart, traps, wagon, pony-chaise (in which the brother, Miss Elphinstone and sister in law flee London). Wells contrasts the Martians superior technology, firepower and scientific advancement against the relative backwardness of the Victorians (Hussars on horseback and soldiers on foot). Communications are limited - telegrams are mentioned but there are no telephones.
We learn that the Victorians considered the British Empire as all-powerful. The artillery man states “the Martians have won and crippled the greatest power in the world”. They seemed very preoccupied with Germany. We see this when Wells states that the Martian arrival was not seen as important as an ultimatum with Germany. Many people think the book is a warning against German expansionism.
We also learn that people did not travel far in those days, and had strange views about foreigners, e.g. Miss Elphinstone is reluctant to escape to France because she thinks the French are similar to the Martians. Wells may also have racist views. He describes a “bearded eagle faced man” fleeing with a bag of gold as being greedy and grasping. This may be a reference to a Jewish man. Wells’ views here were not thought of as racist in Victorian times.
We also see the various classes in Victorian society. In the great exodus from London the Chief Justice Garrick has to flee by road just like the other refugees. Wells describes the different types of clothing worn by the refugees to distinguish their previous positions in society.
Wells depicts a number of powerful set pieces that are very cinematic. For instance the Martians attack fleeing villagers at the water’s edge in Weybridge. The tripods appear and Wells describes silence in place of shouting and screaming. Wells then depicts a scene of chaos.
Wells creates a nail-biting scene by using reptilian imagery and graphic descriptions in the most terrifying and dramatic section. The Martians search the abandoned house in which the narrator and curate are stuck. His use of simile to compare the Martian to a “black worm” creates a disgusting image in the reader’s mind. The tension created in this scene forces the reader to read on. The use of rhetorical questions “Had the Martian seen me? What was it doing now?” heightens the suspense in the scene. Progressively the Martian gets closer. The terror reaches its peak when the Martian touches the heel of his boot. The emotion shown from him here “I was on the verge of screaming, I bit my hand” is desperate. At the end of this scene the reader is exhilarated that the narrator has made a very narrow escape.
Wells uses metaphor, another one of his literary devices strongly throughout the book. His mix of metaphor and simile enhances tension and the overall climate of terror. Wells, as a socialist, was against Empire building and was therefore not in favour of the British Empire. His theme in the book is comparing the alien invasion with the British Empire. To Wells the alien invasion represents what the British Empire had done to other countries that it had conquered. Now the British Empire was experiencing what they did to other smaller countries.
To conclude, Wells creates an atmosphere of terror that leaves the reader filled with revulsion. Wells’ perfect blend of description and imagery allows him to create this ambience of terror throughout the book. This is a very powerful book full of suspense and terror. It is very relevant even today, as we live through terrorist attacks on London.
