Adam Brunet

ENG4U

Ms. Lavallee

December 06 2011

Reader Response Journal 3

            Finishing H.G. Wells’ novel The Time Machine, the main dystopian element Wells uses gradually stops appearing, where he introduces others. From the previous response, the dystopian element of the dangers of science and technology occurred endlessly throughout the previous chapters. Now, it seems that Wells begins to focus on other elements, in correspondence with his character in the story. Wells introduces the element of extreme negative social trends where Wells states, “...as I fumbled with my pocket, a struggle began in the darkness about my knees...soft little hands, too, were creeping over my coat and back, touching even my neck...here and there out of the darkness round me the Murlocks’ eyes shone like carbuncles.” (Wells 75) In the storyline, Wells’ character is confronted by foul beasts known as Murlocks, which have an aggressive and animalistic instinct. Wells not only displays the dangers of science and technology, but now introduces extreme negative social trends. For a race that has survived after eight-hundred thousand years it seems correct to believe that the inhabitants must be technologically inclined and humane. Rather, Wells decides to deter this common belief and present the opposite of such an idea in his writing. The quote further describes his view on the future, where if there would be no technology, the society must have also fallen in terms of lifestyle. According to Wells, it has become a natural environment that’s technology free, yet also provides the survival aspect where one must fight for themselves. This is seen in his creation of the two different creatures in the novel, the Eloi and Murlocks. The Eloi are seen as the humane part, while the Murlocks are seen as the cannibalistic and unrestrained part of civilization. In other words, Wells expresses two different impacts to the fall of technology- positive and negative.

           

            Continuing to the conclusion of the novel, Wells’ character finds the solution to escaping the future to return back to his time period.  Upon discovering the solution, Wells’ character explains, “...I stepped through the bronze frame and up to the Time Machine. I was surprised to find it had been carefully oiled and cleaned...at last the lever was fixed and pulled over...I found myself in the same grey light and tumult I have already described.” (82) Wells illustrates the dystopian element of freedom, where his character has the ability to escape the adventure he has experienced. Like any other person of modern times, the priority is to escape such a foreign area and return to safety. As such, Wells concludes his novel with freedom to emphasize the ability of avoiding technology’s negative effects. Literally it’s currently impossible to time travel, but figuratively escaping the future through use of a time machine is to escape from such problems and return where one can live without harm. Of course, the book is fictional but Wells creates a clear message that society will depend on technology so much, to the point that we will meet a downfall upon its failure. There will be an extreme negative effect on the future to come, where society will be impacted greatly. On the contrary, the difference between Wells’ idea and reality is if technology were to fail us, there’s no solution. Wells’ character has the ability to escape such issues, but in reality there’s no way to hide from such a fate. If technology failed us, all of society would fall, being Wells’ message. If his hypothesis will occur is unknown, but truthfully Wells’ philosophy makes us, the viewer think thoroughly on technology’s impact in our life.

Adam Brunet

ENG4U

Ms. Lavallee

November 28 2011

Reader Response Journal 2

            Continuing H.G Wells’ novel The Time Machine, elements of dystopia began to emerge quickly in the following chapters. At the end of chapter four from the previous response, Wells started to introduce elements, where in the plot the Time Traveller encounters the abnormal environment he’s currently in. From chapters five to nine, Wells expands on these elements while his main character’s struggle continues. Reading chapter five, I realized how bizarre and foreign the atmosphere and its inhabitants are like, where H.G. Wells’ character states, “The great triumph of humanity I had dreamed of took a different shape in my mind. It had been no such triumph of moral education and general co-operation...instead, I saw a real aristocracy, armed with a perfected science...its triumph had not simply a triumph over nature, but a triumph over nature and the fellow-man.” (Wells 51) These creatures were not only behind in modern technology, but also succeeded in surpassing technology’s impact completely. For an individual such as the Time Traveller who resides in a technological world and to experience and believe such a drastic change such as this technology-free world is extremely farfetched. As a person such as the Time Traveller, I would be in awe to experience such a journey. H.G. Wells developed his main character, the Time Traveller to reflect the viewer’s idea and response to such an area. I, as a reader have the same reaction as to the Time Traveller, where I am astonished to such an idea. Because of Wells’ creation of a main character that reflects the viewer’s response, it provokes the reader to reflect on modern technology and think what it would be like if technology were to be eliminated from the world. As the chapters progressed the Time Traveller discovers aged mechanisms, which imply this time period also contains traces of technological advancement. H.G Wells describes this scene by stating, “Here I was more in my element, for rising on either side of me were the huge bulks of big machines, all greatly corroded and many broken down...I could make the vaguest guesses at what they were for.” (68) Wells’ reasoning behind this explanation is to give a broad interpretation to the reader on how technology had fallen, yet still existed in this era. Wells is making the idea that technology is not completely faltered, but rather concealed behind the natural environment the creatures live in. Because of what H.G Wells had written, it creates question and thought as to what this scene represents. Does it mean that this time period uses technology, or has technology been long gone? Wells has yet to explain such questions, which is part of his scheme to arouse question and reflection. It deems me to believe that Wells continually brings up the element of dangers of science and technology in his novel. Rather than focus on a totalitarian government or other elements, Wells has chosen to continue displaying one single element repeatedly. As I continue to read the novel, I encounter the element of dangers of science and technology constantly. It makes me believe that Wells is trying to make a bold statement to his readers, where he shows the element clearly.

Adam Brunet

ENG4U

Ms. Lavallee

November 16 2011

Reader Response Journal 1

            In H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine, few dystopian elements are present, where it only starts to occur in the late chapters I read. The first four chapters introduce the reader to two different settings- modern day and the extremely distant future. The transition between the two times was simple to follow and was explained thoroughly, in which set an understandable introduction. Upon reading chapter one, Wells introduces the modern day setting where a group of men are discussing the idea of time travel. Among these men, the main character is introduced, being the “Time Traveller.” H.G. Wells began the novel by introducing the main character, where I understood the setting and the plot as it progressed. It seems as though Wells is direct in his writing, where he doesn’t attempt to confuse the reader. The environment creates a soothing, yet eerie feeling where Wells states, “the fire burned brightly, and the soft radiance of the incandescent lights... there was that luxurious atmosphere when thought runs gracefully free of the trammels of precision...” (Wells 3) The setting in the beginning is based on the present day, where the Time Traveller’s attempt to convince the group that time travel is possible. It’s creates a calm atmosphere, but also creates anxiousness of hearing of such a theory. Reaching the end of chapter two, the setting changes to the future, in which the Traveller claims he had travelled. The point of view changes from one of the spectators to the Time Traveller, upon stating his experience. The transition between the relaxing home and foreign future occurs. The society in this futuristic period is extremely evolved from modern society known as the Eloi, humanoid creatures that have abnormal features unlike humans. Upon the Time Traveller’s confrontation with these creatures, dystopia begins to appear. At the end of chapter four, the Traveller reflects on his experience and idea on how evolution affected the future. It’s as if though evolution was reversed where this future possesses less technology than the present time. On page thirty-two H.G Wells’ character states, “it seemed to me that I had happened upon humanity upon the wane... began to realize an odd consequence of the social effort in which we are presently engaged... come to think of it, it is a logical consequence enough.” (32) Wells arises questioning of the idea of a dystopian society, which is believed to be tied with evolution. Rather than science and technology benefitting the world, it produces corruption that destroys society. Wells’ character the Time Traveller discusses his assumption on what he expected and the idea that a dystopian society would be established in the future. Wells contradicts this belief where a dystopian society is not based on technological advancement, but instead based on natural living like the Eloi creatures. By the end of chapter 4, I began to identify a few dystopian elements specifically found in the Time Traveller’s response, being the dangers of science and technology. Wells must have decided to include this disbelief instead of creating a dystopian society to reflect his opinion on society and technology’s impact. As of now, it’s difficult to really see a lot of elements compared to other novels, but Wells has begun to show dystopian elements as the chapters continue.