The War of The Worlds | H.G. Wells | Cliff Note Books
“The War of the Worlds” is a science fiction novel written by H.G. Wells, first published in 1898. The story is one of the earliest works to detail a conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race.
The novel begins with a series of strange explosions on the planet Mars observed from an observatory in England. Shortly thereafter, a “falling star” lands on Horsell Common, near the narrator’s home in Woking, Surrey. This “star” turns out to be a cylinder launching a Martian invasion on Earth.
The Martians, who are octopus-like creatures, emerge from the cylinder and set up a “Heat-Ray,” a weapon that instantly incinerates anything and anyone in its path. People initially approach the Martians out of curiosity, but soon panic ensues when the destructive power of the Heat-Ray is demonstrated.
Over the following weeks, more cylinders land in the surrounding areas, and the Martians construct towering three-legged “fighting-machines” armed with the Heat-Ray and “black smoke” – a poisonous gas. These machines ravage the English countryside, crushing or incinerating everything in their path. Military resistance is futile against the technologically advanced invaders.
The narrator and other survivors are forced to hide from the invaders. Throughout the story, the narrator details the horrific devastation of the English countryside, the mass hysteria, and the breakdown of societal norms in the face of the Martian attack.
Despite the Martians’ advanced technology and initial success, they are eventually defeated not by humans, but by Earth’s bacteria. Having evolved on a sterile Mars, the Martians lack immunity to Earth’s diseases. One by one, the Martians fall ill and die, their invasion brought to an abrupt end. The novel ends with the narrator finding his wife alive and the world slowly recovering from the invasion.
“The War of the Worlds” is a commentary on British imperialism, presenting the Martians in the role of the British, and humans in the role of colonized people. The novel illustrates the potential consequences of unchecked power and aggression, while also highlighting human resilience in the face of extreme adversity.
QUOTES FROM THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
“No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.”
“And before we judge of them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?”
“Looking at these stars suddenly dwarfed my own troubles and all the gravities of terrestrial life.”
“For so it had come about, as indeed I and many men might have foreseen had not terror and disaster blinded our minds. These germs of disease have taken toll of humanity since the beginning of things—taken toll of our prehuman ancestors since life began here.”
“The chances of anything man-like on Mars are a million to one, he said. The chances of anything man-like on Mars are a million to one – but still they come!”
BIOGRAPHY OF H.G. WELLS AUTHOR THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Herbert George Wells, commonly known as H.G. Wells, was a prolific English author who was born on September 21, 1866, in Bromley, Kent, England. He died on August 13, 1946. His works span a variety of genres, but he is best known for his science fiction novels, such as “The Time Machine,” “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” “The Invisible Man,” and “The War of the Worlds.”
Wells was born into a working-class family. His father was a professional cricketer and shopkeeper, and his mother was a domestic servant. The family struggled financially, and this economic situation heavily influenced Wells’ views on social and political issues, which he expressed through his writing later in life.
At the age of 13, Wells won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, where he studied biology under T.H. Huxley. However, he left before completing his degree, due to financial difficulties. His interest in science and his admiration for Huxley are apparent in his scientific romances, in which he uses scientific concepts as a basis for speculative fiction.
In the early 1890s, Wells worked as a teacher and started publishing short stories. His first novel, “The Time Machine,” was published in 1895 and was an immediate success. Over the next decade, Wells produced his most famous science fiction works, including “The Island of Doctor Moreau” (1896), “The Invisible Man” (1897), and “The War of the Worlds” (1898).
Wells was also known for his works of social commentary and history. He was a committed socialist, and many of his works reflect his views on social justice and human progress. His “Outline of History” (1920) is an ambitious overview of world history, presenting human history in the context of geological and evolutionary time.
In his personal life, Wells was known for his outspoken views and his relationships with several women. He was married twice and had numerous affairs. Despite his controversy, his contribution to literature, particularly in the field of science fiction, remains significant. He is often called the “father of science fiction” along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback.
Wells passed away in 1946 in London, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to be influential in literature and popular culture. His work, especially his science fiction, has been adapted into many movies, radio dramas, comic books, and television shows.
THEMES IN THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Imperialism and Colonialism: The book was written during the height of the British Empire, and Wells was critical of colonialism and imperialism. The Martians’ invasion of Earth and their brutal treatment of humans mirrors the actions of imperial powers, including Britain, subjugating less technologically advanced societies. The theme serves as a critique of the ethics and consequences of such invasions.
Evolution and Survival of the Fittest: Drawing from Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, the novel presents the Martians as a more advanced species that initially dominate the human race. However, they ultimately fall victim to the smallest organisms on Earth – bacteria. This theme highlights the concept of natural selection, where the most adapted to a particular environment survive and thrive.
The Fragility of Civilization: The Martian invasion quickly leads to the collapse of organized society. The institutions humans have created, such as the government, military, and social structures, prove inadequate against the Martians. This theme questions the robustness and value of our societal constructs when faced with an existential threat.
Science and Technology: The Martians’ advanced technology, such as the Heat-Ray and the fighting-machines, shows the potential destructive power of uncontrolled technological advancements. While humans’ scientific knowledge and technology are vastly inferior, it’s the basic scientific understanding of diseases that explains the Martians’ downfall.
Humanity and Compassion: Despite the pervasive violence and despair, instances of human kindness persist. The narrator’s brother aids two women in their escape, and a curate gives his life for another. These instances highlight the innate human capacity for empathy and compassion even in dire circumstances.
Existentialism: The novel makes readers confront the possibility of humanity not being alone in the universe and, moreover, not being the most advanced life form. It poses deep questions about our place in the universe and the potential existential threat from unknown extraterrestrial life.
DISCUSSION WHEN STUDYING THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Imperialism and its Consequences: Discuss the parallels between the Martian invasion and the actions of imperial powers during the 19th century. How does Wells critique imperialism through the Martian invasion?
Interpretation of the Martians: How do the Martians represent an exaggerated form of the fears of scientific and technological advancements during Wells’ time? How do these fears resonate in our contemporary world?
Survival and Evolution: How does the concept of survival of the fittest apply to humans and Martians? Discuss the ironic twist of the Martians being destroyed by Earth’s bacteria.
Human Response to Crisis: How do characters in the novel respond to the invasion? What does this tell us about human nature and society? Can any parallels be drawn to how societies respond to crises today?
Science Fiction as Social Critique: In what ways does Wells use science fiction to critique societal norms, politics, and the human condition? How does this make “The War of the Worlds” more than just an alien invasion story?
Moral Responsibility of Scientific Progress: Considering the destructive technologies used by the Martians, discuss the moral and ethical responsibilities tied to scientific advancements and the potential consequences of not adhering to them.
The Role of Religion: The novel also explores the theme of religion, primarily through the character of the curate. How does Wells portray religion in the face of disaster? What might he be saying about faith during times of extreme crisis?
Existentialism: How does the novel challenge our understanding of human significance in the universe? How does it make readers reflect on our place in the cosmos and confront the possibility of being lesser beings in the grand scale of life forms in the universe?
SUMMARY OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
BOOK ONE
Chapter 1: The Eve of the War: The story begins with a statement about the martians observing Earth “keenly and closely”. An observatory in England notes a series of explosions on the surface of Mars. The narrator briefly discusses the public’s ignorance about the impending disaster.
Chapter 2: The Falling Star: The public regards the Martian explosions as a mere spectacle of scientific interest. Then, a “falling star” lands on Horsell Common near Woking, creating a large pit. The narrator travels there to observe the object.
Chapter 3: On Horsell Common: The narrator reaches the pit and finds the cylinder from Mars, still hot from its travel through the atmosphere. A crowd gathers around the pit as the cylinder unscrews.
Chapter 4: The Cylinder Opens: Martians emerge from the cylinder, resembling “a bear” and “cephalopods” with numerous tentacles. They are unable to move well in Earth’s gravity. The onlookers send a deputation, including a local astronomer Ogilvy, to communicate, but the Martians incinerate them with a Heat-Ray.
Chapter 5: The Heat-Ray: Panic ensues as the Heat-Ray destroys everything in its path. The narrator escapes and informs others about the terrifying weapon.
Chapter 6: The Heat-Ray in the Chobham Road: As the news of the Martians spreads, people evacuate their homes. The army is alerted, and the narrator’s house comes under the Heat-Ray’s path, forcing him and his wife to stay with relatives in Leatherhead.
Chapter 7: How I Reached Home: The narrator describes his exhausting walk home and the initial panic in Woking. He returns to find his wife terrified but unharmed.
Chapter 8: Friday Night: The narrator and his wife spend a restless night at home. They hear a series of midnight gunshots, signalling the army’s engagement with the Martians.
Chapter 9: The Fighting Begins: News of the Martian invasion begins to spread. The army engages the Martians, but their guns have little effect on the invaders. A second cylinder from Mars lands.
Chapter 10: In the Storm: As the Martians continue their assault, a violent thunderstorm breaks out. Amid the chaos, the narrator decides to send his wife to Leatherhead for safety while he stays back to observe the events.
Chapter 11: At the Window: The narrator watches the Martians from his study window, observing them assemble a new device. Suddenly, a terrifying Martian with a tentacle appears at his window, but retreats as dawn breaks.
Chapter 12: What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton: The narrator decides to leave Woking. As he departs, he encounters a panicked artilleryman who describes the Martians’ destructive weapons. They see the Martians use their Heat-Ray and Black Smoke, a deadly chemical weapon, to destroy Weybridge and Shepperton. The narrator narrowly escapes in a boat.
Chapter 13: How I Fell in with the Curate: After his escape, the narrator encounters a shell-shocked curate. The narrator finds companionship in him, despite their starkly different perspectives on the invasion.
Chapter 14: In London: This chapter, narrated in third-person, switches to the narrator’s younger brother in London. He learns of the invasion from the newspapers, which downplay the severity of the situation. However, as the situation worsens, he decides to leave London with two women, his two fellow lodgers.
Chapter 15: What Had Happened in Surrey: The Martians continue to wreak havoc in Surrey, using the Black Smoke and Heat-Ray. Meanwhile, they’re assembling a mysterious, large piece of machinery.
Chapter 16: The Exodus from London: The narrator’s brother and the two women join a mass exodus from London. They face the chaos and danger of the panicked crowd.
Chapter 17: The Thunder Child: The group reaches the coast, hoping to cross the Channel to safety. A Martian tripod attacks the fleeing crowd, but the HMS Thunder Child, an ironclad torpedo ram of the Royal Navy, bravely confronts and destroys two tripods, allowing some refugee ships to escape. This is humanity’s first victory against the Martians, but it comes at the cost of the Thunder Child and her crew.
BOOK TWO
Chapter 1: Under Foot: This chapter begins with the narrator and the curate hiding in a deserted house. They witness the Martians at close quarters, seeing how they “feed” by injecting human blood directly into their bodies. They are trapped when a Martian cylinder crashes into the house, partially burying them.
Chapter 2: What We Saw from the Ruined House: The narrator and the curate observe the Martians closely from their hiding place, watching as they assemble their machinery, including the monstrous tripod machines. They realize that the Martians have brought their own alien flora to replace Earth’s ecosystem.
Chapter 3: Days of Imprisonment: The narrator and the curate are trapped for days in the ruined house. Food and drink begin to run low, and the curate starts to lose his mind due to fear and hunger, posing a threat to their concealment.
Chapter 4: The Death of the Curate: The curate’s mental state deteriorates further. He becomes a liability, shouting and attracting the Martians’ attention. To save himself, the narrator is forced to knock the curate unconscious. A Martian then enters and drags the curate away, presumably to feed on him.
Chapter 5: The Stillness: The narrator survives on his own for several days, living in silence and fear. He contemplates suicide but is distracted by a strange sight: red weed everywhere, dying and turning black.
Chapter 6: The Work of Fifteen Days: The narrator finally decides to leave the ruined house and finds that all Martians have died, presumably from terrestrial bacteria against which they had no immunity. Human beings, evolved over millions of years to resist these bacteria, survived, whereas the more advanced Martians have succumbed.
Chapter 7: The Man on Putney Hill: The narrator encounters an artilleryman he had met earlier. The man shares his plan of living underground and rebuilding human civilization while avoiding the Martians. But the narrator soon realizes that the artilleryman is not mentally fit and his plan is more of a fantasy.
Chapter 8: Dead London: The narrator continues his journey through a deserted London. He encounters a Martian’s dead body and realizes he’s no longer afraid. The once fearful Martians now appear pitiful to him.
Chapter 9: Wreckage: The narrator experiences despair as he wanders through the decimated landscape. He feels profound loneliness, believing himself to be the only human left alive.
Chapter 10: The Epilogue: The narrator eventually finds other survivors and is joyfully reunited with his wife. The ordeal ends, and humans start to rebuild. The narrator reflects on the close call with extinction and the perilous position of mankind in the universe.
This second book of the novel focuses more on the psychological effects of the invasion and the struggle for survival under the Martians. The ending is hopeful, with humanity beginning to recover and rebuild after the devastating invasion, but it is tinged with an awareness of the vulnerability of mankind.