The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Chapter 3 to 9
Chapter III: THE TIME TRAVELLER RETURNS
No one believed in the Time Traveller. They thought that the time machine is not going to work out. Even if Filby had said these things they would have believed. The following week the guests met again in the Time Traveller's house. The Time Traveller was not there. The narrator wondered where he would have gone. But since its time and since there was a message from Time Traveller to have their dinner, if in case he come late, the guests started to have their dinner.
And this time there were few new guests. The guests gave their own reason for the absence of the Time Traveller the editor asked about the time machine. since the psychologist operated the time machine he thought he know more than others and he started explaining about it. While they were talking the Time Travller entered through the corridor doors and the narrator was the first one to see him. The narrator noticed that his coat was so dirty, his hair was disordered his face was so pale and he had a brown cut in his chin which was actually half healed. he also walked with a lame foot.
The guests were shocked to see the appearance of the Time Traveller they were eager to know what had happened to him. The Time Traveller was so tired. He didn’t even had strength to utter a single word. He drank few glasses of wine before he could speak anything. he went upstairs to refresh himself and while he climbed the steps the Time Traveller noticed the blood stains in his socks. the editor and the journalist made fun of his appearance. The Time Traveller returned back after refreshing. But still he is not ready to speak until he finish off his dinner
The Time Traveller after finishing his dinner accepted to
tell his story but on one condition that no one should disturb him because he
is so tired. Everyone accept this. So he begins. In the beginning the guests
didn’t believed. But as the time traveller narrated his story, they all were
quite captivated by it.
Chapter IV: TIME TRAVELLING
The Time Traveller starts to narrate the incident. Before telling about his travel he said that the Time Machine is safe though little travel worn. He said that he finished all the works regarding the Time Machine that morning. He also finished the last screwing up and applied little oil too. He wished to test that machine. So he sat in the saddle and pulled the forward and backward lever almost immediately. I hope you remember that the Time Machine had two lever, one to move forward in time and another one to move back in time. So the first Time travel was for a very few minutes. Except for a lapse in time for just 20 minutes, the time traveler could not feel any difference.
All the things around him moved very fast. Even a slow moving snail seemed to move very fast. The moon seems like a ball that keeps spinning. The night and day merged into one continuous grey colour video. Trees grew and looked like puffs of vapor of brown and green colour. The Time Traveller looked at the speed dials of the time machine and he noticed that it was moving faster and faster.
The time traveler suddenly got a fear about the future. He feared about the people and their development. He thought what might happen if the time machine hits on anything. He fears for a explosion. But since there is no other go he stops the time machine. He was in the future. And it was raining heavily. He though that future is not inviting him properly. He felt bad for getting fully drenched.
Being in future he saw a statue of sphinx made of white marble on a bronze pedestal. again a fear occupied his mind. He feared what if human have become more cruel and unsympathetic and overwhelmingly powerful. He wanted to go back. He tried to readjust the time machine. He felt bad because of the rain. but suddenly the climate changed. He could feel the sun’s rays.. it gave him courage. Just then the people of the future show up. They seem short and frail to the time traveler. They were so slight, and beautiful. Their appearance gave courage to the time traveler.
The time traveler saw the future people. He name
them as Elois later. But They were just four feet. And they had a leather belt
at their waist. And they were dressed in purple. He also noticed they were
wearing sandal or somewhat like a buskins in their feet. Buskins are a lengthy
boot made up of leather or cloth, closed with laces. The olden form of boots.
It looked as if their legs were closer to the knees. Their head were bare. This
appearance of the future people gave much courage to the time traveler.
Chapter V: In the GOLDEN AGE,
we get to know more about the future and its inhabitants. The Time Traveller was surprised to know that the people were not afraid of him. Many people surrounded the Time Traveller. They touched him to make sure that the Time Traveller was real. They were so delicate. Their touch was like that of the tentacles. Their hands were so flexible and delicate. Their delicate appearance gave more courage to the Time Traveller. Their voice too was so sweet. But the Time Traveller could not understand their language.
The fragile appearance of the people gave the Time Traveller more courage. He thought that he can take control over them, if needed. Since
he is no more afraid of the people, he took the lever and kept it safely in his
pockets. He also wants to make sure that no one else can take a ride in the Time Machine.
Here we have a short description of the Eloi’s appearance. The Time Traveller describes that the Eloi’ had uniformly curly hair, minute ears, bright red lips which were so little, and a large, mild eyes. They had light limbs and were dressed in soft purple coloured robes.
Since the people had very delicate voice, the Time Traveller felt hesitant to speak with his harsh voice. So through gestures he said that he had come from future. To tell them about the time, the Time Traveller pointed out at the sun. But the Elois misunderstood him and thought that he had come from sun. they were quite surprised to know that the man has come from the sun in this hailstorm. The Time Traveller was confused. He thought he is dealing with fools. He had a feeling of handling a 5 year old kid. He felt so disappointed of the future. He expected a bright and knowledgeable future. But the people there, their appearance, their level of understanding disappointed the Time Traveller.
One of the Eloi, gave the Time Traveller a garland. The others too started to do the same. Within few minutes the Time Traveler was covered with delicate flowers. The people took the Time Traveller to their building. They moved leaving the time machine there itself. Their building was like a large colossal dimension. The building was in a bad condition. It had great walls, the windows were partially glazed and unglazed, glazed is polished, or having frames. Few windows had frames and few were left within the outer frames and it was also broken here and there, the floors were made up of a kind of huge white metal, there where benches made up of polished stone, the huge curtain was so dusty. And the Time Traveller noted that the bench upon which he is seated is broken too.
In the benches there were fruits. Almost all kinds
of fruit. Nearly 100 people were seated in the hall and the people were eating
it so happily. The Time Traveller too had some fruits. The time traveler termed them as
frugivorous, since they don’t eat anything else except fruit. The time traveler came to know that the dogs,
cattle and horses were extinct. After finishing his food, the Time Traveller wanted to
learn the language of the people to communicate with them, but his attempt was
laughed at. But still he tried to learn that language. But the people were so
lazy and they got tired easily. They are not ready to train him or answer his
questions. The Time Traveller felt that he had not met any people like them.
Chapter VI: THE SUNSET OF MANKIND
Eloi’s are not much interested in the Time Traveller as they were in the beginning. The Time Traveller said the interest of the Eloi’s is like that of a child, which is so short lived. The people of the future followed the Time Traveller, at times laughed at him, smiled at him with friendly gestures. But no one followed him for a very long time. May be because they lost their interest or maybe they felt so tired. He found left alone upon the hill. Actually it gave a kind of relaxation to the Time Traveller. The Time Traveller wished to have a view of the 802,701.(Eight Hundred and Two Thousand Seven Hundred and One, A.D) Wondering how he found out the year…? Yes, off course from the dials of the TM. he moved up the hill looking around.
The Time Traveller gives a account of the future. He saw that there was no independent house but only large buildings. He thought that it is a good symbol of communism. He felt happy that the people are living as one community. It also struck him that all the people wore same kind of costume and there is no gender differentiation and all the people looked alike. He also realized that the institution of the family has disappeared. He added that since there is no need for physical force or necessity of child bearing, the family bonding has disappeared among the Eloi’s.
While the Time Traveller was immersed in such thoughts, a well like structure arrested his attention. But still he didn’t give much thought to it. On reaching the top of the hill, the Time Traveller found a seat of some yellow metal, which was corroded in few places. He sat on it, and surveyed the whole landscape before him. He saw the Thames river, Yes off course the great Thames river of Britain. He also noted that there were no boundaries, no fences, and no ownership rights over land. Even agriculture is missing in future.
The Time Traveller tried to interpret future from his own point of view. But unfortunately later, he found most of his interpretations were wrong. He thought the condition of Elois is a proof of the sunset of mankind. He thought that Eloi have become feeble because there is no need for them to be strong. The time traveler thought since they don’t face any hardship they have become so weak.
He also said that the future people are living in balance with nature. They have achieved a complete balance between animal and vegetable life to suit the human needs. He felt the air was free from all kind of insects and bacteria and the earth is so pure and free from fungus. He also noticed that the people are so healthy and no one suffered from disease. He thought that the future people have eradicated all diseases. He was surprised to see that the people are not at all working. They were free from all social and economical struggle. There were neither shops nor advertisements.
The Time Traveler thought that the Nature has
conquered over man. And now there was a perfect harmony between man and human.
Since there was no fight, strength and power was also not needed. He was quite
happy that there was no war and violence. He thought that he had found out all
the secrets of the future. but unfortunately he was wrong in most of his
findings about the future.
Chapter VII: A Sudden Shock
The Time Traveller standing upon the hill, immersed in the thoughts of the Eloi’s felt the chillness of the night and realized its time to get down. He looked for the white Sphinx statue to make sure of his path. But, when he could not find the Time Machine, near the Sphinx statue he was quite shocked. He felt totally lost. He even felt difficult to breathe. He ran down the slope. He fell down two to three times. He got wounded in his face and blood flowed down. But he didn’t bothered about his wounds nor stopped to wipe the blood. He thought that the Eloi’s would have moved the Time Machine from there.
He started to shout, curse and cried aloud. But no one responded him. He went near the stature and searched around it for his Time Machine. He searched in the nearby bushes but its of no use. He felt helpless and clueless. Since he thought that the Eloi’s are not physically and mentally strong enough to move the time machine, he feared whether it is some unseen force, which had moved the time machine. He know for sure, no one would move in time using it, because the lever was with him. He strongly believed that without the lever, no one can operate the time machine. So he searched around the bushes more eagerly, and while searching he came across a white creature, which he thought was a deer. But actually he was not in a mood to explore the animal further. He was worried about his Time Machine.
He went to the huge building where the Eloi’s were sleeping. He entered with full force and with a lighted match stick in his hands. This made the Eloi’s little frightened. He questioned them about his Time Machine. But no one answered him. They could not even understand his question. He felt maddened. He don’t know what to do and he felt completely cut down from his own race. He cursed his own fate and cried to God. But its of no use. He felt angry on himself for leaving the time machine so carelessly. With these painful thoughts he fell asleep.
The next day morning the Traveller was more calm and composed. He thought to search for his Machine. And he even thought if in case he could not get back his time machine, he should be prepared to make ready one to go back to his own age. The time traveler’s courage here is noteworthy. Even after a major loss, he looked forward for the next move in his life. He planned to stay calm and search for his machine. He refreshed himself and started his search. He questioned the Eloi’s but as usual they giggled at him and no proper response from them. The time Traveller felt little irritated. He went near the stature and examined in the day light. He found a foot print like those of a sloth. And the footprint was like that of a sloth. Sloth is a kind of mammals which moves very slowly. They almost look like a monkey. The footprints ended near the pedestal of the sphinx. So the Time Traveller thought that his time machine should be under the pedestal.
He thought to open the doors of the pedestal. But there was no knob. He understood that it can be opened only from inside. He saw two Elois coming there. He asked to them about the door. But they behaved very oddly. He don’t know what to do. But at any cost he wanted his time machine. So he asked another Elois and almost forced him to open the door. But on seeing a deadly fear in the Elio’s face he left him. He tried to open the door on his own. He used his fist but it’s of no use. So he took the near by stone to open the door. But the door remained hard to open..
He could not open the doors of the pedestal. He sat
near it. He could hear some kind of noise from inside. He was so confused. He
doesn’t know what to do. He felt trapped. But still, he felt that he had no
other option, except to remain patience.
He went near the big building. He felt that the people were avoiding
him. He thought that his attempt to open the door was the reason for their
avoidance. But still without giving much thought to it, he continued in his
effort in learning their language.
Chapter VIII: Explanation,
The Time Traveller gives lot more information and his interpretation of the future. He tried to explore the place more. He wanted to know about the place. The Well which was found in many places, attracted his attention. He said that the wells were rimmed with bronze, which was shaped by hammering. He also saw that few wells were protected by cupola, to avoid the rain water entering into it. He heard some kind of noise from inside. He also noticed that the wells were sucking the air down. Once he threw a paper into the well and instead of fluttering slowly down, it was sucked swiftly out of sight.
The Time Traveller thought that the wells were a part of the sanitation system of that place. He felt that he was in a position of an African, who will find it difficult to describe all the modern development of Britain to his native people. He could not understand many things there and he felt that he could neither explain it clearly. He could not even ask to the Eloi’s. He felt confused and he wished he could have someone to guide him.
Few things were completely mysterious to him. He wondered why there were no aged people and he could not even see any tomb stone. Cremation ground too was missing in the future. The absence of machinery, shops and advertisements surprised him. He wondered how they wore pleasant fabrics and they made ready their boots. He could not get any clue about the water less wells and also about the pedestal under the sphinx statue.
One day the Time Traveller saw a Eloi carried away by a shallow stream. The other Eloi’s didn’t even make an attempt to save her. We saw that there was no gender differentiation between the Eloi’s. But still the Time Traveller believed that this Eloi was a woman. The time Traveller acted at the right moment and saved her. He didn’t expect any kind of gratitude from her, but she presented the Time Traveller a big garland of flowers. The time Traveller felt surprised and appreciated the gift. They exchanged flowers and he tried to talk to her. She said that her name was Weena. Thus a Strange friendship developed between them.
Weena’s affection towards the time traveller was like that of a child. She wanted to be with the time traveller always. She cared for him. The Time Traveller was both troubled and comforted by her friendship. But, Not only Weena, the Time Traveller too valued the relationship of Weena. He started to feel like home, when Weena was with him. From Weena, Time Traveller learnt that the Eloi’s were afraid of darkness. Darkness for them was a very dreadful thing. They all gathered together in the great houses in dark and no one dared to come out of the building in darkness. The Time Traveller was not afraid of such darkness and he always preferred to sleep away from the Eloi’s. but since Weena, compelled he too started to sleep along with the Eloi’s. On one night, the Time Traveller’s sleep was disturbed by a dream. He woke up and saw some greyish animal rushing out of the chamber.
Since his sleep was disturbed and it was almost dawn he came out of the chamber. He saw up the hill and he thought he saw ghosts and some white creatures. He fancied that he saw ape-like creatures carrying some dark body and seems to vanish among the bushes. Since it’s dawn and since it was little dark too, the Time Traveller doubted what he saw. He had a clear view of the hill on the day light and he could not find any traces of the white creatures. He even had a funny thought about the existence of Ghosts.
The Time Traveller explored a ruined building one day. It was impenetrably dark. When he was almost trying to find his way in darkness, he saw a pair of luminous eyes watching him in darkness. At first he was afraid even to turn. But he tried to over come his fear and he advanced a step to spoke. He put out his hands and touched something soft. At once something white ran past him. He saw a queer ape-like creature, with it’s head held down in a peculiar manner running across. The Time Traveller could not give a clear picture of it, because it ran very fast.
The Time Traveller gave a very vague picture of this Creature. He said that it was dull white and had strange large grayish-eyes and it had flaxen hair. Flaxen hair here refers to the pale yellowish brown color hair. He could not identify whether it moved with all the fours or only with its forearms. He tried to follow this creature but he could not find it, instead he came across a round well-like structure, which was half closed by a fallen pillar. He doubted whether the creature moved into it. He lit a match stick and in that light he saw a white creature moving inside it.
With the help of the light from the match stick the Time Traveller saw the creature moved like a human spider inside the well and he also noticed a ladder like structure inside the well. Before he could light other match, the creature disappeared. He sat near the well and kept on looking into it. He himself doesn’t know how long he sat there. He thought that the creature he saw was also a human and came to a conclusion that the human race has divided into two. One, the graceful and delicate people of the upper world and the other obscene creatures of the underworld.
He sat in the rim of the well and thought about the world inside it. He thought that the solution to all his difficulties is inside the well, yes off course he means his Time Machine. He saw two Eloi’s coming over there. They feel distressed on seeing the Time Traveller looking down the well. He asked to them about the well but they didn’t give any response to him. But the Eloi’s were attracted by the match sticks in his hands and the Time Traveller too lighted few match sticks to amuse them. He thought to ask to Weena. but the Time Traveller himself was so confused. He found out that Most of his interpretations regarding the future were going wrong.
The time Traveller gave his view about the Marlocks. He thought that the Marlocks were Subterranean. Subterranean means existing under the earth’s surface. He thought that those bright eyes of the Marlocks are common to most creatures that live in dark. And these Marlocks lowered their heads while walk to avoid the sunlight. And he realized that the earth is tunneled enormously and they all lived in the tunnels under the earth.
Time Traveller thought that this difference between Eloi’s and Marlock’s reflected the capitalism and laborer structure. He thought that the above ground people, Elois are Haves because they pursue pleasure and comfort. And the below ground people, Marlocks are have-nots who stands for the worker. He thought that the Marlocks are paying rent for their ventilation or else they would die out of suffocation. He thought that the Eloi’s are real aristocratic and they have conquered man and fellow human being. He thought this kind of aristocratic and labour difference is natural and will be there in all ages. He also added that his view point may be wrong also.
Now he knew for sure that the Marlocks have taken his Time Machine and He wondered why the Marlocks took it. He also wondered if the Elois were the masters why don’t they help him to get back his Time Machine. He wanted to know more about these Marlocks’s. So he asked to Weena about them. At first she could not understand the question but once she understood she refused to answer. She almost shivered when asked about the Marlocks. When the Time Traveller forced her to answer, she burst into tears. Somehow the Time Traveller felt bad for making Weena cry, so he tried to console her by lighting up the match sticks.
The Time Traveller too hated the Marlocks. He hated The Marlocks for their half-bleached appearance and the filthy cold touch of them. The Time Traveller’s night went sleepless. He slept along with the Eloi’s and their presence was a comfort for the Time Traveller now. Somehow the Time Traveller felt afraid of the no moon day. Thought he knew for sure, he can get back his Time Machine only by penetrating into the Well, he felt afraid to do so. He thought that if he had a companion it would have been an easy task. He felt bad for being alone in such a situation. He started to explore the place to come out of his restlessness. He came across a vast green structured building which seemed to be very different and completely ruined.
He explored that large building. It was larger than any other building there. He noticed that the front part of the building was made up of Chinese green porcelain material. Since the night was fast approaching, he decided to explore the building the next day and returned back to the large building of the Eloi’s . but the next day he was more concerned about the well and his Time Machine than the Palace of Green Porcelain. Weena too came along with the Time Traveller but once she saw him looking into the well, she got nervous. When the Time Traveller started to enter the well and move down it, Weena tried to stop him by pulling his hands up, but the time traveller was firm in his decision. He bid good-bye to Weena and started to move down .
He started to descend down. It was almost 200 yard distance. Yes almost 597 feet. He descended down using that ladder like structure but it was so narrow and light. Getting down using that made him to feel exerted. Unfortunately, one of the bars of the ladders broke and he fell down into the blackness. He felt a acute pain in his arms and back. He looked above but he could not see anything clearly. The sound inside the well was heard clearly. He felt nervous. He even thought to go back but he proceeded further. He saw a narrow horizontal tunnel in which he could lie and rest for some time. The darkness had a bad effect on his eyes. He could see the outline of a machinery which was sucking the air down.
He slept in the tunnel itself but suddenly was roused by a soft touch. He lighted the match stick and saw three white creatures looking at him. It almost looked like the same creature that he came across in the ruins. They doesn’t seemed to be frightened by the Time Traveller but they were taken aback by the match stick. They retrieved back. But they stared at him in the darkness. He tried to call them but its of no use. He moved further inside the tunnel and came across a large open space.
With the help of the matchstick light, he saw a shape of big machines, and a table made of white metal in that large open space. The place was surrounded with the smell of fresh blood. He was shocked to know that the Marlocks were carnivorous. He wondered what meat was there in the table. He had a quick glance of all these in things in the light of the matchstick.
He felt bad for not being well-equipped in such a situation. He thought that the future men would be well equipped but unfortunately even a match stick was new to them. He blamed himself for coming without medicines, arms and even a tobacco. Off course he missed his tobacco very badly. He felt for not bring a Kodak camera with him. He thought that if he had bought one, he could have taken a photo of that dark place and examined it in detail. But unfortunately for then he had to depend on his own strength and four safety match sticks alone. He blamed himself for wasting the match stick to amuse the upper world people. The Time Traveller could feel the Marlocks coming near him and examine him closely. He felt very unpleasant. He shouted at them loudly. Though they seem to move back they came forward and got hold of the Time Traveller. The Time Traveller was terribly frightened. He thought to strike another match stick and escape from that place.
He lighted a match stick and also burned a scrap of paper from his pocket. The flame from it helped him to escape. But very soon the Marlock clutched him and tried to pull him back. The Time Traveller struck another light and another light and almost emptied all the light when he reached the ladder. He managed to escaped from the clutches of the Marlock and started to climb the ladder. However one of the Marlock took away his boots. He climbed overcoming his feeling of fainting and at last he found himself above the well. The soil smelt so pleasant to him. He could Feel Weena near him and the voices of the other Eloi’s. He fell down insensible.
---HAPPY LEARNING----
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