What do we learn about the time traveller in the opening frame of the story, as he explains his time machine to his friends? How do those traits inform the way he understands (or misunderstands) the future when he gets there?
One thought on “The Time Machine”
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From the outset, the time traveler is shown in a contrast both subtle and distinct from his counter-parts. Assuming the story is set in the same period that the book was written, a number of distinguished and professional men sit at the home of a man who challenges their conventional Victorian ways of thinking. Yet they seem to respect him, perhaps because he seems to be a fusion of a prudent, dignified man and an insightful, eccentric and curious scientist. As a result of these contrasting traits, upon his arrival in the year 802,701 A.D., the reader experiences his open-mindedness in his strive to learn the language, to eat their fruits and take in their architecture. However, such curiosity is laced with an evident proclivity to make oft patronizing judgments and consider himself better – to see himself as a product of a more advanced historical epoch. However, the time traveler’s judgements are not entirely negative; he reflects positively on the progress of their society at the beginning. Moreover, the time traveler holds fast to his knowledge of the Earth from his own time, which while one may argue is presumptuous given the many natural changes around him, this comes to his benefit with the camphor and matches.
Intriguing is this contrast, as though in the outset of the book the time traveler appears to be ahead of his time in terms of his open-mindedness, intrigue and patience with the unknown, yet upon his arrival some 800,806 years later his tendencies to reap judgement, presume culture and imply betterness become evident.