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Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
Chapter 7
Explanation and Analysis—Ants and Cattle:
The book uses a metaphor to compare ants and Morlocks, the strand of humanity's descendants who have devolved into a cannibalistic, subterranean society. Morlocks are depicted as creatures who live in “burrows” and “crawl” below ground, preferring the dark crevices of the earth to the daylight. The Time Traveller describes the Morlocks as "small, white, moving creatures" that are the "half-bleached color of the worms and things one sees preserved in spirit in a zoological museum." These descriptions highlight the Morlocks' mutated, animalistic appearance, in which almost all vestiges of humanity have been stamped out.
The Traveller notes that the Morlocks prey upon the surface-dwelling Eloi, further deepening the metaphor of the Morlocks as insects and scavenging vermin. Wells writes:
These Eloi were mere fatted cattle, which the ant-like Morlocks preserved and preyed upon—probably saw to the breeding of.
The simultaneous comparisons of the Eloi to cattle and the Morlocks to ants illustrates the pitiless, agricultural relationship the Time Traveller observes between the two sub-species. Not only do the Morlocks no longer physically resemble humans—they have also taken up the role of the scavenging ant, consuming the "decaying" and vulnerable Eloi species beneath which they "burrow."
The subterranean environment in which the Morlocks exist further heightens its resemblance to an ant colony:
I fancied I could even feel the hollowness of the ground beneath my feet: could, indeed, almost see through it the Morlocks in their anthill going hither and thither and waiting for the dark. In my excitement I fancied that they would receive my invasion of their burrows as a declaration of war.
This description of the Morlocks' "anthill" reiterates the Time Traveller's conception of the Morlocks as an otherworldly, antagonistic presence. The underground conditions in which the Morlocks live further allude to the exploitation of working-class miners in the 1800s, who endured similarly dim and dire working environments. H.G. Wells uses this loose comparison to point to the tragic consequences of class inequality and the inhumane exploitation of laborers in the 19th century. If left to run rampant, Wells suggests, such inhuman conditions may distort human nature itself.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Siblings:
Wells develops the metaphor of siblings to compare and contrast the Morlocks and Eloi, the two strands of humanity's descendants. The Eloi are portrayed as the weaker, more vulnerable sibling who once held greater power, but has since devolved and now lacks the strength and ability to defend themselves. Conversely, the Morlocks are portrayed as the sibling who was once oppressed but has evolved to become brutish and violent, retaining the brawn and ingenuity that once was humanity's strength. Observing the two species, the Traveller remarks:
Ages ago, thousands of generations ago, man had thrust his brother man out of the ease and the sunshine. And now that brother was coming back — changed!
Here, the Traveller points out that the Eloi and the Morlocks are both descendants of the human race, but have evolved in very different ways. The invocation of the image of siblings emphasizes the idea that both races are ultimately the products of the same evolutionary process, with their differences arising from their adaptation to different environments and social pressures.
The Time Traveller describes the relationship between the Eloi and the Morlocks as one of "parasitism" and "predation," with the Morlocks living underground and feeding on the Eloi, who remain above ground. This dynamic bears a resemblance to an unhealthy relationship between siblings, in which one is weaker and dependent on the other, and the other takes advantage of their weakness. This analogy serves to highlight the potential consequences of the imbalance of power between the working class and the elite.
Ultimately, the metaphor of siblings underscores the strange and unnatural relationship that has developed between the two species. Their relationship has become mutually injurious, with the Eloi exploiting the Morlocks and the Morlocks preying on the Eloi. This "unnatural" state of affairs resembles an unhealthy relationship between siblings, in which the bonds of family and care have dissolved and only mutual antagonism remains.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Cattle :
Several times, the Time Traveller refers to the Eloi metaphorically as cattle. This comparison serves to highlight the Eloi's apathetic and passive nature; the Time Traveller's comparison suggests that the Eloi have become docile and easily manipulated by their environment. This comparison draws attention to the dangers of complacency and the loss of individuality and freedom that can result from societal regression. In Chapter 10, the Time Traveller uses a simile to express this idea:
Very pleasant was their day, as pleasant as the day of the cattle in the field. Like the cattle, they knew of no enemies and provided against no needs. And their end was the same.
This comparison serves to highlight how vulnerable the Eloi are to predation. Just as cattle are fattened and eaten by humans, the Eloi are bred and consumed by the Morlocks.
The Time Traveller also compares the Eloi to cattle in Chapter 7 using a metaphor, suggesting that both the Morlocks and the Eloi have lost their humanity and are now engaged in an animalistic relationship:
These Eloi were mere fatted cattle, which the ant-like Morlocks preserved and preyed upon—probably saw to the breeding of.
The cattle metaphor is used to explore the theme of class division in the novel. The Morlocks, who represent the working class, have gained power and control over the Eloi, who were once the upper class. Thus, both sides of the class divide have exploited and preyed upon the other, leaving no one side the victim or the perpetrator. This metaphor reveals how societal inequality corrupts both the capitalist and the laborer, and is a tool used by H.G. Wells to comment on the dangers of societal regression and the exploitation of the vulnerable by the powerful.
Related Themes:
Chapter 10
Explanation and Analysis—Cattle :
Several times, the Time Traveller refers to the Eloi metaphorically as cattle. This comparison serves to highlight the Eloi's apathetic and passive nature; the Time Traveller's comparison suggests that the Eloi have become docile and easily manipulated by their environment. This comparison draws attention to the dangers of complacency and the loss of individuality and freedom that can result from societal regression. In Chapter 10, the Time Traveller uses a simile to express this idea:
Very pleasant was their day, as pleasant as the day of the cattle in the field. Like the cattle, they knew of no enemies and provided against no needs. And their end was the same.
This comparison serves to highlight how vulnerable the Eloi are to predation. Just as cattle are fattened and eaten by humans, the Eloi are bred and consumed by the Morlocks.
The Time Traveller also compares the Eloi to cattle in Chapter 7 using a metaphor, suggesting that both the Morlocks and the Eloi have lost their humanity and are now engaged in an animalistic relationship:
These Eloi were mere fatted cattle, which the ant-like Morlocks preserved and preyed upon—probably saw to the breeding of.
The cattle metaphor is used to explore the theme of class division in the novel. The Morlocks, who represent the working class, have gained power and control over the Eloi, who were once the upper class. Thus, both sides of the class divide have exploited and preyed upon the other, leaving no one side the victim or the perpetrator. This metaphor reveals how societal inequality corrupts both the capitalist and the laborer, and is a tool used by H.G. Wells to comment on the dangers of societal regression and the exploitation of the vulnerable by the powerful.
Related Themes:
