Context Flashcards
Colonialism + Empire
Written during the height of the British Empire when the British empire was considered to be the most powerful force on earth.
The book can be considered a reflection of the morality of the British empire as there are many references to the sheer and utter power/ destruction not only by the humans but also by the Martians. By the Early 20th century, the Empire had
encompassed around 25% of the Earth’s surface and almost 25% of the world’s population, making it seem almost ‘universal’. Yet to the Martians, their weapons are merely “bows and arrows”.
Well’s subverts this dominance in his novel whilst critiquing imperial actions.
Advancements in science
Wells had a scientific background in biology and zoology, influencing scenes such as in the crater at Sheen where he vividly describes the Martian biology.
Specifically, Charles Darwin published his work On the Origin of Species shortly before HG Wells started writing this
book so it would have been a major influence over the ideas expressed throughout.
I.e., Mars is clearly a dying planet and thus through ‘the immediate pressure of necessity’, it has further
enhanced their evolution in that it ‘has brightened their intellects’.
This Contextual reference is mainly used during the earlier stages of the book. The main idea conveyed though is related to the ‘survival of the fittest’ and as a result, evolution and natural selection.
Fear of Invasion
Because this was during the height of the British empire, Britain was increasingly concerned about the possibility of invasion from a foreign power, particularly Germany. The book
exemplifies this the most as it is literally narrating the invasion of an extraterrestrial being.
Technological Innovation
This was during a time of rapid industrialisation and technological change which transformed the lives of many people. Wells explores the Martians as almost like mechanical monsters with highly sophisticated technology who use fire, smoke and machinery in order to terrorise and
destroy acres of the rural landscape, and their local population. In this respect, they could be read as a metaphor for the physically destructive force of industrialisation.
Christian Ideals mixed with Evolutionary theory
Wells incorporates both these ideals in his book through mainly ideas of superiority. In Book 2, Chapter 2, Wells uses his understanding of biology to paint a lurid picture of the Martian
digestive process, which the narrator regards as being far more evolutionarily advanced than that of humans.
The Martians’ domination over humanity is provocative for a Victorian reader since it violates the Great Chain of Being (men are second to God only, animals are below humans). Therefore, similes like “as are the monkeys and lemurs to us” portray humans as animals compared to the Martians - an extremely disturbing and degrading idea.
However, Wells’s presentation of the role of God within the novel is also as a supreme being who wants to teach the human race a serious lesson in response to the number
of sins committed by the British empire. The biblical references also imply that God has relented and has decided to spare humanity from total destruction.
Apocalypse
Apocalypse is a clear theme that pervades the book. It also relates contextually to the biblical “Book of Revelation. The idea of the Apocalypse is often associated with millenarianism — the belief in a thousand-year period of blessedness on Earth. It is particularly expressed during Thomas Carlyle’s work and writings which ultimately influenced HG Wells’ writing.
Additionally, the style of writing which Wells creates for the unnamed narrator resembles Carlyle’s style of mixing history and social criticism.
Sci-fi genre
Fascinated contemporary audience and presented new ideas.
