War Of the WorldsWar Of the Worlds Vs.Vs.

British ColonialismBritish Colonialism

British ImperialismBritish Imperialism During the mid-late 1800’s During the mid-late 1800’s

Britain had one the vastest Britain had one the vastest overseas empires to the overseas empires to the point where ¼ of the total point where ¼ of the total landmass and population of landmass and population of the world was under British the world was under British controlcontrol

Many of these Many of these colonies/territories which colonies/territories which Britain possessed, were Britain possessed, were taken by force, or just drawn taken by force, or just drawn up at meetings with other up at meetings with other great European powers who great European powers who were dividing land up were dividing land up amongst themselvesamongst themselves

British Imperialism (cont.)British Imperialism (cont.)

And many if not all of And many if not all of these colonies that were these colonies that were annexed to Britain during annexed to Britain during this time were taken this time were taken without the consent of the without the consent of the native peoples of the land native peoples of the land and by arbitrary force and by arbitrary force This was especially This was especially

evident in the carving evident in the carving up of the African up of the African continent as well as on continent as well as on the Indian sub-the Indian sub-continentcontinent

Alien InvasionAlien Invasion

In the early moments of alien insurgency instead of In the early moments of alien insurgency instead of trying to establish any lines of communication at all trying to establish any lines of communication at all with men, the Martians just start destroying with men, the Martians just start destroying everything in sighteverything in sightThis kind of barbaric behavior and tyranny was This kind of barbaric behavior and tyranny was

exhibited by the Martians invaders all throughout exhibited by the Martians invaders all throughout their campaign which almost completely wipes the their campaign which almost completely wipes the human race from the face of the Earth human race from the face of the Earth

Alien Invasion (cont.)Alien Invasion (cont.)

During the Martian occupation beside the fact that During the Martian occupation beside the fact that mankind was nearly wiped off the face of the Earth, mankind was nearly wiped off the face of the Earth, the structure of society was also nearly destroyed as the structure of society was also nearly destroyed as well because of the state of total chaos the Martians well because of the state of total chaos the Martians caused caused The Martians just implanted their own culture and The Martians just implanted their own culture and

customs on Earth when they began their campaign customs on Earth when they began their campaign of occupation, which slowly but surely began of occupation, which slowly but surely began stamp out the life and culture of the indigenous stamp out the life and culture of the indigenous people (humans) people (humans)

One in the SameOne in the Same

British Imperialism The War of the Worlds

Connections Between the TwoConnections Between the Two One of the biggest connections that is made between One of the biggest connections that is made between

Wells’ novel and British imperialism during that time Wells’ novel and British imperialism during that time period is the arbitrary force used to take over the period is the arbitrary force used to take over the foreign territories against the indigenous population’s foreign territories against the indigenous population’s wisheswishesThis is most evident in the initial actions taken by This is most evident in the initial actions taken by

the Martians after they landed on Earth, even after the Martians after they landed on Earth, even after attempts for communications and peace talks were attempts for communications and peace talks were taken by men towards the Martians they still showed taken by men towards the Martians they still showed no mercy and massacred the human onlookersno mercy and massacred the human onlookers

These actions are almost exactly a mirror image of These actions are almost exactly a mirror image of the actions of greed and barbarism taken by the the actions of greed and barbarism taken by the British in their overseas campaign for world British in their overseas campaign for world dominationdomination

Connections Between the Two (cont.)Connections Between the Two (cont.)

Wells placed the setting of Wells placed the setting of War of the Worlds War of the Worlds in Britain in Britain to give the people of his country an idea of the kind of to give the people of his country an idea of the kind of oppression that their own armies were imposing on the oppression that their own armies were imposing on the helpless natives of African and Asian countrieshelpless natives of African and Asian countriesThis is shown through the great devastation and This is shown through the great devastation and

terror the Martians instill on the British people all terror the Martians instill on the British people all throughout their campaign to wipe the human race throughout their campaign to wipe the human race and claim Earth for themselvesand claim Earth for themselves

This is meant to put the British people into the This is meant to put the British people into the position of those poor native peoples of Africa and position of those poor native peoples of Africa and Asia where British ambition his taken precedence Asia where British ambition his taken precedence over the welfare and rights of the natives over the welfare and rights of the natives

More ConnectionsMore Connections

Another way the Martian invasion in H.G. Wells’ novel Another way the Martian invasion in H.G. Wells’ novel can be related to British imperialism in the 19can be related to British imperialism in the 19 thth Century Century is in the appearance of the Martiansis in the appearance of the MartiansThis is especially evident in the many tentacles that This is especially evident in the many tentacles that

the Martians had and how they would use them to the Martians had and how they would use them to capture its pray and pull it in capture its pray and pull it in

This is in comparison to how England held This is in comparison to how England held multitudes of foreign territories, and how the multitudes of foreign territories, and how the English had many slimy tentacles stemming from English had many slimy tentacles stemming from their country controlling all the many territories it their country controlling all the many territories it possessed, squeezing all life out of them as possessed, squeezing all life out of them as England’s imperial ambitions grewEngland’s imperial ambitions grew

And Some More Connections…And Some More Connections…

Yet another very pertinent aspect within Yet another very pertinent aspect within War of the War of the Worlds Worlds that is very close to the major pillars of British that is very close to the major pillars of British Colonialism which were represented by the curate and Colonialism which were represented by the curate and the artilleryman charactersthe artilleryman charactersThese two characters represent the two major pillars These two characters represent the two major pillars

of British Colonialism/rule over the colonies: the of British Colonialism/rule over the colonies: the church spread through missionaries and the military church spread through missionaries and the military which occupied these territorieswhich occupied these territories

And the depictions of the deterioration of both these And the depictions of the deterioration of both these characters’ mental and emotional states during the characters’ mental and emotional states during the Martian occupation shows how the two major Martian occupation shows how the two major supports of colonial rule were built with false values supports of colonial rule were built with false values and senses of powerand senses of power

Work CitedWork Cited Wells, H. G.. Wells, H. G.. The War of the WorldsThe War of the Worlds. London, UK: Createspace, 2008. Print.. London, UK: Createspace, 2008. Print. "Science fiction, colonialism, and the plot of invasion - page 5 | "Science fiction, colonialism, and the plot of invasion - page 5 |

Extrapolation." Extrapolation." Find Articles at BNET | News Articles, Magazine Back Issues Find Articles at BNET | News Articles, Magazine Back Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics& Reference Articles on All Topics. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1421/is_3_46/ai_n29235667/pg_5/>. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1421/is_3_46/ai_n29235667/pg_5/>.

O'Callaghan, Scott. "War of the Worlds: Why Do We Fear Martians?." O'Callaghan, Scott. "War of the Worlds: Why Do We Fear Martians?." Learn Learn More at Space.com. From Satellites to Stars, NASA information, Astronomy, More at Space.com. From Satellites to Stars, NASA information, Astronomy, the Sun and the Planets, we have your information here.the Sun and the Planets, we have your information here. . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. Apr. 2010. <http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/phenomena/war_worlds_fear_991029.<http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/phenomena/war_worlds_fear_991029.html>.html>.