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.