War of the Worlds- Abbey Stefanides
After reading The Lord of the Flies our class discussed many “lenses” that Golding had written the book in. Such as the psychoanalytic theory (Freud), the religion, and history/politics. As our group reads War of the WorldsI wonder why the author is writing this book. I wonder what is purpose is. Is it mere entertainment? or is their a meaning behind it all? We know now that they war between the martians has begun, and it is a hard fight. My question to you is:
What is the authors purpose in writing this book? What lens is H. G. Wells writing from?
Category: Discussion Director, Per 3 WotW DD 5 comments »
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I believe that H.G. Wells wrote this to show what he feels would happen to the Earth if extraterrestrial life would invade. I also feel that he might be trying to tell us that we all are very lucky. First to be alive and second that the planet we live on is so abundant in life. I don’t think that Wells can predict the future or anything but I think he saw this coming in the future. I don’t think that he is writing through any lenses that we have discussed in class. I think that he wrote this in more of a scientific lense than anything.
Kody Bell
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I believe that Wells wrote War of the Worlds for more than just pure entertainment or even for people to ponder the existence of extarestrial life. I think that on eof his main reasons was to make people consider humanities overwelming sense of self rightousness. Every person on the planet has a tendency to put themselves above other species. What we are doing to our own environment is a prime example. By simply creating the existence of the Martians in the book, Wells subtly crushes this way of thinking in us by making us realize that we are now sharing this galaxy, not possesing it. This makes us very vulnerable. I think that this makes the reader consider life on Earth from the perspective of a lesser entity.
Shaun Ditzler
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I agree with Kody in that H.G. Wells is writing to show how lucky we are on Earth. Our planet is abundant and it’s the only one of its kind. I also believe he’s showing how much we take it for granted. We think that the air we breathe and the water we drink will always be here. But the quality of our resources reduces over time with pollution. Also with human population growing, resources are stretched thin. In short, we don’t know what we have until it’s gone. H.G. Wells is using the Martian invasion as a way of “speeding up” this process. People can no longer use the natural or man-made resources because they are to preoccupied with running away and not getting killed.
I believe H.G. Wells is writing from a psychoanalytic lens. When the Martians invade, luxuries like eating at home or taking the train are suddenly taken away and people are forced to turn to their survival instincts, or the Id. A person’s Superego succumbs to the Id and the Id begins to control the Ego, which is the person. They become greedy, steal, kill, or do whatever is necessary out of basic survival instinct; they think and act like animals.
-Paula Ferrara
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Hey guys I was wrong we can get on to the site with a iPod touch
Kody Bell
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Kody and Shaun-You guys copped out!
Paula-Good start, but take your analysis further!
Abbey-You must respond to your own questions!