HG Wells – The War Of The Worlds Essay Example

viewpoint:Cliffhanger:"Would that I had! Her face, I remember, was very white as we parted".

In the 1800`s civilization was the most important thing. If a man did not wear a hat he was accused of being poor and even if he was middle class a hat and a suit was the only way of recognizing status. Clothes were the way in which people could tell if you were rich or poor. In the book when the man loses his hat no one helps him and suspects him of just being a poor person begging. Civilization starts to break down in this book not that far off from when the Martians come to earth.

People start being selfish and getting themselves out of harms way and do not even try to bother helping the women and children.That was a mans duty to make sure, in any danger, to save his wife and children. The main character of this book outbids another buyer in a public house for buying the horse and cart. He gets away with it. When he goes back to the town guilt rises upon him as he finds the landlord who he bought the horse and cart off dead "It was the landlord of the Spotted Dog, whose conveyance I had taken". In the wreck of this little town and soon to be more social convention had broken down.

People of the church and vicars are losing faith and are starting to flee. Doctors who have swore the oath of loyalty to help all people in need have broken down and fled.The country is on full alert and the city of London is in a very

chaotic state. The atmosphere created in this episode has a sense of drams and excitement.

"London in Danger", this gives a sense of urgency in the headline. H G Wells uses comparisons to show the awe and power of the Martian invaders in that he describes the invaders as "vast spider-like machines, nearly a hundred feet high, capable of the speed of an express-train". Wells also uses contrasting pairs to describe the power of the machine monsters when he writes "and that they could move swiftly and smite with such power".This is a contrasting pair because he says "swiftly but smite", swiftly means quick, agile and nimble and smite meaning striking and powerful, which is constructed to make the Martians look strong and powerful.

Wells also uses a contrasting pair to create a sense of optimism where he says "This was printed in enormous type on paper so fresh that it was still wet", which shows optimism in the way that an announcement had been made to assure the safety in the people of London. A fast pace is created in this episode by having the city chaotic at one time, but then an assurance is made that the people will be safe, but some may not believe that they are safe, which causes great tension in this episode, and for the next chapter of the book.This passage describes why the Martian invasion failed, and how the Martians were destroyed. The atmosphere created in this episode is one of rising optimism and reflection.