Comparing Time Machine And The Toynbee Convector

The Future of the Human Race: A Comparison of The Time Machine and “The Toynbee Convector”

No one knows for certain what the future will hold, but history shows that societies often evolve and become more advanced for the better. However, while some progress, others regress back to a primitive state. The british historian, Arnold Toynbee, often talked about civilizations dying by their own hands. Toynbee’s observations of societies committing suicide are evident in both H.G. Wells' scientific romance novel, The Time Machine, and Ray Bradbury’s short story, “The Toynbee Convector”. Firstly, the novel’s underground working class rises against the capitalists. Secondly, The human race has made no advancements, but instead has reverted back to

a primitive state. Lastly, the society of the short story has lost the will to live.
The novel’s working class, the Morlocks, rises against the privileged capitalists, the Eloi. The Time Traveller travels into the future to find out that the human race is long gone. It has instead evolved into two species: The Eloi and the Morlocks. After returning from the “underworld”, the protagonist realizes the truth of what had happened to the two species. He also notices that the Eloi are afraid of the dark. Putting the pieces together, The Time Traveller comes to a conclusion: “The Nemesis of the delicate ones was creeping on apace. Ages ago, thousands of generations ago, man had thrust his brother man out of the ease and sunshine. And now that brother was coming back--changed! ….And suddenly there came into my head the memory of the meat I had seen in the Under-world” (89-90). The decline of the human race is caused by the ostracization of the working class. The Eloi were once the high, wealthy class and the Morlocks were essentially their slaves banished underground to work on the machines. In exchange for being their slaves, The Morlocks get to feast on the Eloi, which explains the latter’s fear of dark nights. The fall of the human race into two primitive species living in fear from the other is prime example of Toynbee’s observations on societies committing suicide.
Instead of making advancements that will better society, the human race has regressed back to its primitive ways.

Although he was putting it off due to fear, The Time Traveler decides it's time to investigate and learn more about how the Morlocks live. The protagonist descends down a well underground, where he smells fresh blood in the air. After coming to the realization that the Morlocks are carnivorous, The Time Traveller becomes aware of how ill prepared he is: “When I had started the Time Machine, I had started with the absurd assumption that the men of the Future would certainly be infinitely ahead of ourselves in all their appliances…. But, as it was, I stood there with only the weapons and the powers that Nature had endowed me with--hands, feet, and teeth; these, and four safety-matches that still remained to me” (84-85). The Time Traveller is thousands of years into the future, yet he is left to use the things utilized by cavemen. The scientist believed that the future would have technology beyond one’s imagination, but instead he is resorted back to using matches as a weapon to fend of the Morlocks. The fact that The Time Traveller has to use such ancient weapons millions of years in the future, showcases the lack of progression the human race has made. A Society moving back instead of forward, leads to it’s own self

demise.
Finally, the society of the short story has lost the will to keep going. Craig Bennett Stiles had created a time machine that went to the future. There, he saw how society had progressed beyond anyone's dreams. Craig, Roger Shumway, and the world are waiting for the arrival of the Craig’s past self in his time machine. But nothing appears when the countdown to the long awaited arrival reaches zero. Stiles admits that he lied about everything. Seeing the confusion on Roger’s face, the scientist tells him the reason behind making everything up: “Because I was born and raised in a time, in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, when people had stopped believing in themselves….Everywhere, I saw and heard doubt. Everywhere, I learned destruction. Everywhere was professional despair, intellectual ennui, political cynicism” (6). The scientist addresses what happens to a society that gives up. The human race was destined for self destruction the moment they lost hope. When people lose interest and stop caring, their community and environment regress and fall apart. In order for a society to thrive and prosper, it must always be moving forward and advancing. The loss of hope throughout a civilization leads to its own downfall.
In conclusion, H.G. Wells’ scientific romance novel, The Time Machine, and Ray Bradbury’s short story, “The Toynbee Convector”, contain evidence of Toynbee’s observations of societies dying by their own hand. The oppressed, underground working class rises up against the wealthy. Instead of making progress, the human race has regressed back to its old primitive ways. Lastly, society in the short story have given up all hope. Not only are Toynbee’s observations present in the works of these two authors, but they are evident in today's world.