The Time Machine
1895
H.G. Wells
Abstract
A scientist travels into the distant future on a machine he invents and then discovers that the fall of society is decadence and not destruction.
Synopsis
A scientist called Time Traveler has a diverse group of intellectuals for a dinner party to present his theory of dimensions involving time. In the cigar lounge, he demonstrates this with a miniature version of the machine and leaves everyone confounded. The next week, the Time Traveler invites another group of fellows to dinner but he himself arrives late and is disturbingly haggard. He recounts the 8 day adventure of time traveling that morning. In the future, Time Traveler loses his Time Machine at a White Sphinx in the future and explores the future London to get it back.
Humans diverged into two distinct species: a breed of ugly underworld troglodytes called Morlocks and overworld androgynous automatons called Eloi that look young and beautiful. He easily befriends the free-loving Eloi and rescues a female named Weena from drowning. He travels with her throughout the mysterious ruins of palaces and obelisks among flowering gardens and ventures into the deplorable Morlock wells to discover their mechanical dungeons.
The Golden Age of humanity had already came and passed: not by destruction or plight, but by achieving perfect comfort, by decadence. The working class evolved to live submissively underground running the machines maintaining the overworld needs and the aristocratic elites stayed above ground in complete sanctuary by successfully erasing all of the pestilence and dangers of humanity. As this harmony and perfect comfort became completely automatized, the species had consequently degenerated to fragile frames and child-like minds as no intelligence or strength was required to face any great threats, great needs, or battle of any great ideas.
The descendants of class oppression had their relationship innocuously reversed. In a twist of fate, the Morlocks began to feed on Eloi as cattle, as their previous food supply may have depleted. They come up at night to harvest and to leave supplies and garments.
The Time Traveler loses Weena and gains an affinity for bashing Morlock skulls. He recaptures his Time Machine under the White Sphinx and goes even further into the distant future to see the sun growing red and large and no traces of humanity. At the dinner party, nobody believes his story as all he has for proof are future flowers left in his pocket by little Weena.
Symbolism
Flowers are Innocence
Eloi are the flowers of Innocence; the youth of society. H.G. Wells longs for the return of innocence as the relationship with Weena feels strong and intimate. Even though they were the descendants of devilish oppressors, the Time Traveler was enchanted by beauty and purity. She dies in the fire and he clubs the Morlocks out of rage and not for defense. This rage is the guilt and shame one feels by losing innocence. He was naive of the consequences.
Fire is Civilization
Matchsticks, the torch of camphor and bonfires, are how humans wield the power of fire which civility is also the separation between man and animal. The cigar lounge and discussion by the hearth emphasize that fire is for civil discourse. Whoever has control over the fire of society has power. Time Traveler uses fire to enchant Eloi and rob Morlocks of their sight to achieve his goals but ends up destroying the forest.
“It was my first fire coming after me.”
His abandoned and unchecked fire grew into a furious power in the same manner of the machines of society’s power can grow out of control.
Meat Eating is Oppression
The Eloi have a diet of fruit and the Morlocks feed on the Eloi meat. Time Traveler arrives to the dinner ravished for meat and enjoys the mutton. Lambs are innocent young and sheep are the common illustration for the public. He may see himself in the Morlocks. They both work on machines, and are the oppressors. He did call them inhuman and ugly, but it’s possible that this familiarity breeds further contempt.
Allegory
Excuse of Necessity and Fear
“Man had been content to live in ease and delight upon the labours of his fellow-man, had taken Necessity as his watchword and excuse, and in the fullness of time Necessity had come home to him”
Necessity doesn’t follow morals, it creates them.
People today may quickly give up freedoms for the sake of security because it appears “necessary”. In the book, the aristocrats gained complete control over the rest. No more intellectual strength required as the opposition was all but wiped out. Mankind had perfectly divided itself into two.
“Still, however helpless the little people in the presence of their mysterious Fear, I was differently constituted. I came out of this age of ours, this ripe prime of the human race, when Fear does not paralyse and mystery has lost its terrors. I at least would defend myself”
The fear halts progress. Time Traveler boldly faces the fear of the unknown to get back his Time Machine. Both the Eloi and Morlocks are fearful. Courage was lost long ago with intelligence and the decadence into arts and eroticism.
“This has ever been the fate of energy in security; it takes to art and to eroticism, and then come languor and decay.”
Bravery doesn’t come from perfect safety but from facing the inevitable unknowns and constantly overcoming them.
Hope through Life’s Suffering
“To sit among all those unknown things before a puzzle like that is hopeless. That way lies monomania. Face this world. Learn its ways, watch it, be careful of too hasty guesses at its meaning. In the end you will find clues to it all.’ ”
When the pain of loss or confusion becomes intolerable, hope is the true necessity. As the Time Traveler started his investigation, patience and diligence with an open mind allows for clues for the answers.
The Time Traveler faces agony a second time after he loses Weena in the fire.
“For the most part of that night I was persuaded it was a nightmare. I bit myself and screamed in a passionate desire to awake. I beat the ground with my hands, and got up and sat down again, and wandered here and there, and again sat down”
“I felt the intensest wretchedness for the horrible death of little Weena”
He lost his treasure and knows that it was his fault. Failure is inevitable and one does best to move forward and learn from mistakes. (Unless he could have traveled back and saved her?)