Blog 3, The Time Machine, Period 1, Sonam Sherpa, Discussion Director
Well, in this section of the book we start to see more of the Morlocks and figure out some key differences between the Eloi and the Morlocks. Some of the differences would be as follows. We see that the Morlocks are nocturnal and the Eloi aren’t, also the Morlocks are carnivores and the Eloi are strict herbivores, and also the Eloi are more layed back and relaxed and the Morlocks are more violent. So now that I have already recapped what you all already know, I will now get to the stuff that I’m supposed to be blogging about.
In this section of the book we start to see more of the Time Traveller’s extremely interrogative attitude. I do realize that I’m restating what I’ve already said in my prior blog, but now after reading this portion of the book I’m starting to see more of this than before. The most likely reason for this would be that now he is finding the deeper, more complex parts of the lives of the Morlocks and the Eloi and because of this he is trying to link it to the life that he knew before. The interesting thing about his curious attitude is that he realizes that all of his predictions are most likely incorrect, which is odd because even he realizes the fact that he is exceedingly intelligent. So my question for you is, do you think that the reason why the time traveller second guesses himself? Could this be because he doubts how smart he is, and if he is as smart as he can be? Please give me your input.
Now I would like to ask what you think about the two species, the Morlocks and the Eloi. Now that you have learned more about the Morlocks and the Eloi, what do you think of the species? Do you think that the theory that the Time Traveller has thought up is close to accurate? Now that we’ve seen that the Morlocks seem to be more violent do you think that this way of evolution is more likely than the Eloi because of the violence in the nature of every human? Now I would like to ask you, if you could think up a form of evolution for mankind in the year that the book takes place, could you tell me? (this is simply for amusement, and to see how your ideas on the future would differ from H.G. Wells’, and what that shows of your personality and morals.)
Category: Uncategorized 5 comments »
April 12th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
First of all I do not believe that the Time Traveler is doubting his intelligence at all. He said near the beginning that he was just basing his opinions on what he could plainly see. These were being made without any factual basis behind them. By doing this mistakes are natural for a person to make. The man is much smarter than the average person, and this still shows in his guesses even though he may not be correct. The conclusions that he makes is much deeper and more full of understanding than an average person’s would be.
The Morlocks and the Eloi are a little interesting. They are complete opposites, and it is remarkable that they were formed from the same species. I believe that the Time Traveler’s hypothesis could be accurate, but I have my own idea too. I agree with the Time Traveler in saying that humans did split and evolve separately, according to their surroundings. What I do not agree with is the reasoning for the split. I do not think that they divided due to their class in the past, I think it was due to an argument. I think that some dispute it being religion, political, or moral, something caused them to divide into two groups. Them not liking each other they moved into two different areas (above and below ground) causing them to evolve differently.
~Erin Campbell =]
April 13th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Sonam Sherpa
Well, I would have to disagree with Giddy on this one. The main reason why is because I wrote this blog. The second reason why I think that the time traveller is very doubtful of himself is becuase all people, no matter who they are have some air of self-consciousness around them at all times. It is a sad fact that we must embrace, our kind is very fickle, we love intelligence and loath stupidity. So due to this sad fact, and the fact that the time traveller is blessed with the gift of intelligence he is probably expected to come up with all of these great theories and inventions. And this was most likely what had ended up driving the Time Traveller, it was probably not the fact that he loved to think of new things, it could have just been expected of him. So therefore his intelligence was both a blessing and a curse.
Well, I personally I think that both the Eloi and the Morlocks are the extremes of what could happen to us in the end. I mean, you can’t really expect mankind who has strived for so many years to end up disintigrating into these small, fragile, stupid animals. And now I shall share my opinion. I’m not trying to be overly pessimistic, but I think that we shall blow ourselves up before any of these possibilities can happen. This is a sad fact, but there are some sick people who think violence will solve the problems that they have, and due to this fact I think that if we were to survive this long that we would evolve into something that would tip to the Morlocks side of DNA. The reason why is because no matter who the person they have an inate ability for violence, in other words, everyone realizes at one time or another that they could hurt something else. Due to this fact I highly doubt that we could turn into anything like the Eloi. But, there is hope, I mean the human race could pick itself up in the next few years, I just hope I would live to see it.
April 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Colin Easter
The Time Traveller isn’t second guessing himself, he was saying what he thought at the time and comparing that to what he knows now (after the event has occurred). His thoughts and musings are an example of what usually is said in a science fiction book. The author attempts to explain what he thinks will happen and why. He is doing this through the character of the Time Traveller.
The Time Traveller has already said that what he thought at first was wrong. I think that they could be the twisted remains of a nuclear or biological attack. The people above ground were so affected by the chemicals that they lost most intellectual skills and height. It would more likely have been a biological sort of chemical since the buildings weren’t destroyed. The people underground were the people who were hiding from the attack by moving underground. They most likely had to stay underground for a long time (several generations?) while they waited until the chemicals went away. In those years that may have had to survive by cannibalism and the darkness would hurt their eyes. They would also have gotten very white, leading to the white skin and large eyes of the Morlocks. I don’t think that people will evolve at all. The whole thing is just a theory with very little proof, if any. People in the future will either be much farther advanced, be rebuilding after a war, or not be there due to the apocalypse already having happened.
April 13th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
For the first question I do not think that the time traveler is doubting his intellegence, I just think he is uncovering the truth. It is like if you set goals too high for yourself. You realize that it is too much and you actually learn more that way other than just having it come easily, so he is actually smater because of it.
I think that the species are unique but have their flaws. the Eloi are peaceful but they are weak, but the Morlocks are strong but not peacful. I think that his therory may be close to fact because if the people who want peace join together and the people who want war join together their bodies will adapt to the kind of living they are in. Finally I would think that in this future that the humans would be far advanced with technologies far ahead of ours. I would think the language to be different no matter what but I would expect it to be very advanced.
-Taran
April 13th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
1. I do not think he is second guessing how smart he is because he excepts the fact that he can be wrong and i think this is one of those times. He is making educated guesses on what is going to happen. He has no prior knowledge about this time. So he has nothing really to make predictions off of becasue the only information he has is what he is expiriencing now. So he is defiantly not second guessing his intelligence.
2. The species of the Eloi and the morlocks are completely different. The morlocks seem to be almost evil and the Eloi very kind, but if you look at what each has gone through it is almost the opposite. Eloi have the power and control the morlocks, although they are slowly losing that power. They forced the morlocks underground to work for them. As a result the morlocks have gotten evil and hate the Eloi, now they use the Eloi’s weakness to get back at them. Now that the Eloi have to do nothing for themselves they have grown very weak, and the morlocks have grown more powerful. Soon, i think there will be a reversal of power, the morlocks will rule over the Eloi. So far, i think the time travelers theories are are close to accurate.
In the future i would hope that we would have much more technology, but still have to do things for oursleves. SO we would not turn out like the Eloi.
-Amber