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The Satire of H.G Wells

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Few advancements in human history have made more impact on our modern world than the industrial revolution. Coupled with this leap in industry, imperialism defined the economic political and social structure across the globe. Essentially the industrial revolution defined the means, while imperialism dictated who would have eventual control. H.G Wells explores both imperialism and the industrial revolution by taking them to extremes, and through his satire reflects the specific flaws of both processes as they changed the world around him.

H.G Wells himself was a left wing socialist. Socialism essentially commands an abolition of class structure and a "collective ownership of the means of production" (Wikipedia, Socialism). Wells interest …show more content…

This same question of motivation can be applied to British imperialism, it is clear though that British imperialism was not motivated by necessity, but found its impetus in the accumulation of power and resource.

The role of ethics in imperialism is also questioned. The Martians seem to have no ethical or moral concern for the humans. Wells describes the ‘extermination' of the Tasmanians, which was conducted by humans on humans, as ruthless (Wells, 1898, p.5). This act lacks the same ethics and morals missing from the Martian invasion. Imperialism is thus presented as an act that lacks these ethical and moral concerns.

The humans initial reaction to the Martian invasion is also of significance because Wells presents the humans as overly self confident, arrogant and to a degree ignorant of the danger that is posed to them. The ignorance and self-confidence of humanity is presented most strikingly in the Londoners reaction to a Sunday Sun article describing ‘massacres' and the ineffectiveness of traditional weapons against the Martians (Wells, 1898, p.20). The notion that the Martians would be unable to move under earth's gravity was also simply accepted by the humans (Wells, 1898, p20). By presenting the reactions to the invasion in this manner, Wells is commenting on a society that has grown complacent and too self assured. When the scale of the invasion is known the society resorts to panic.

The arrogance of the society presented by Wells can be compared

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