The Concept Of Natural Selection In The Time Machine By H. G. Wells

How does H.G. Wells portray the concept of natural selection as a central theme in The Time Machine?
The Time Machine is a novel which had a narrative deeply rooted in areas of science that it would be wrong to say that none of them act as key themes of this novel. As the years pass all living beings evolve or else they will be overtaken by the other species in a system called natural selection, described by Charles Darwin as the ‘’principle by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved.’’ Useful in this context is referring to survival – and to reach the year eight hundred and two thousand seven hundred and one it’s obvious that a huge number of changes will have occurred to all species, including humans. Given that the development
As he sets about learning about them he describes being around them as ‘’like a schoolmaster amongst children.’’ This simile not only speaks for the lowered level of intelligence which has resulted over the years, but also for the way that the Eloi behave; they spend most of their time playing and have lost all sense of responsibility. The use of adjectives to describe the state of the buildings in which the Eloi live further goes to demonstrate the lack of worry that they have developed about their environment. Compared to humans of a more contemporary age which takes great care in architectural design, the Eloi are satisfied with everything with the exception of their counterparts, the Morlocks. Unfortunately, by having this world or perfect contentedness where they experience no adversity to overcome there is no progress of any sort being made. The Time Traveller states that ‘’we are kept keen on the grindstone of pain and necessity’’ and, following the logic of this metaphor, in a world where there are no troubles to overcome, there is no refinement of the self to be made. This suggests that while Wells thinks natural selection could eventually result in a more relaxed, peaceful existence (with the exception of natural fear instincts) the cost of this existence is the loss of intelligence and desire for
When one girl is swept away by a river current the Time Traveller notes that none of the Eloi ‘’made the slightest attempt to rescue the weakly crying little thing which was drowning before their eyes.’’ The reader feels compelled to want to help this character through the combined use of adverbs and verbs used by Wells i.e. ‘weakly crying.’ They clearly show vulnerability and a desire to be rescued, however none of the Eloi so much a bat an eyelid in response to this. It’s a blatant lack of concern for their fellows in any way whatsoever, suggesting that the Eloi have lost any sense of empathy or philanthropic drive which would make them want to help other Eloi. This rather dark development that Wells includes in the otherwise innocent Eloi makes the reader wonder what circumstances could have resulted in the human race losing any level of charity or wanting to help each other; apparently it wasn’t needed anymore at some point as their environment changed. Frankly, this demonstration of natural selection erasing the apparently useless trait of empathy and wanting to help others is terrifying and such a world in which this occurs should never come to