The Time Machine Plot Overview
Alex – immersed in quest for mathematical knowledge
Alex – loses fiancé (night of proposal)
Alex – heartbroken; builds time machine to change his tragic past
Alex – fails to save fiancé when he travels to the past; decides to travel to the future in hopes of help / answer
Alex – learns society’s use of technology backfired in their attempt to colonize the moon. The Lunar Colonization resulted in
the destruction of the moon and an environmental apocalypse (ice age)
Alex – awakens in the distant future (over 800,000 years in the future!)
Alex – first meets the Eloi a peace loving race focused on culture, tradition and education
Eloi – are childlike in their simplistic way of life (obedient, taken ‘care’ of)
Alex – survives attack by the Morlock a cannibalistic race focused on industry
Morlock – are a vicious and dominant race that produce and control the Eloi through fear and mind control
Alex – learns the two race caste system developed as a result of climate change. The Morlocks adapted to living underground and are sensitive to light. They spend their days working in underground factories and their nights hunting Eloi. At times, they emerge during the day for surprise attacks. The Eloi adapted to surface living, however, they did not have the skill or technology to maintain aspects of industry. Therefore, they became dependent upon the Morlocks for their consumer goods. Eventually, this dependency led to blind obedience. The Morlock’s leader developed technology to ‘spy’ on the Eloi’s minds. (telepathy) The Morlock leader’s power created The Eloi have now evolved into a simple race of prey. They are too afraid and ignorant to challenge the ruling Morlock class.
Well’s – (the author) uses situational irony to establish a totalitarian government founded in manual labor and an exploited
class founded in peace and education.
Alex – eventually leads a one man rebellion against the Morlock. He is unable to change the strong social views engrained
in the Eloi after thousands of years of social evolution. But, he is determined to control his own actions.
Alex – meets the Morlock’s ruler. The Morlock’s ruler explains the premise of their society. He justifies their actions by
stating social classes always prey upon one another. In their caste system it is simply more literal. He also explains
they use the Eloi because they have power to control them. Alex realizes power is a source of corruption. Alex fears
his time machine is a source of power; therefore, it may become a source of corruption. Alex decides to accept his
past. He destroys the time machine. He uses the destruction of the time machine like a bomb to destroy the
Morlocks’ underground factories / society.
Alex – battles the Morlock’s ruler and wins.
Alex – frees the Eloi, but advises them to become self-reliant and value equality, independence and individuality
Alex – concludes his adventure with the realization that an individual can make a difference; however, that difference is in
one’s future (not in one’s past)