Aliens

Zareth Martinez

Laura Cline

English 102

October 4 2011

Aliens

One of the earliest and most influential science fiction writers of the twentieth century was Herbert George Wells, and he paved the way to the alien genre with his novel War of the Worlds in 1898. H.G. Wells was born and raised in London. “Wells taught biology until 1893 when he began his career as a novelist (Columbia Encyclopedia 2008). He used his science fiction novels to disguise his own political and social views through entertainment, “In his science fiction, he took the ideas and fears that haunted the mind of his age” (Encyclopedia Britannica).With War of the Worlds, H.G Wells accomplished just that and made in impact in the way aliens are represented. Wells created a tale that portrayed alien monsters to mankind to show how mankind uses their knowledge of technology to create weapons of mass destruction to dominate society; thus begins the fear of aliens. Aliens can be seen as the physical manifestation of our fears of war, nuclear weapons, invasion and now terrorism.

H.G. Wells utilized the setting, time and characters in War of the Worlds to give it a realistic ambiance. His novel entails unfamiliar creatures that land on earth in a three legged mechanical armor to dominate our planet; fighting man with chemical and heat-ray weapons. These weapons where far superior to mans own weapon technology. The alien’s intent was the extermination of the human race to extend their own survival. In the end the Aliens are defeated by disease, what could be perceived as a “common cold,” stopping the terror of the monstrous creatures.

The aliens are described in this novel as monsters hiding behind their mechanical armor. H.G. Wells intended to display how mankind poses themselves as astute masterminds hiding behind their armored tanks to dominant others during battle. He acknowledges how mans knowledge of technology has been utilized in war to gain terror over their enemies. The Alien invasion and attack among the human race is meant to be seen as a ruthlessness act to annihilate and kill with no purpose or mercy to their victims, but only to display their supreme power.

H.G. Wells describes these similarities of behaviors between alien and man in the opening of his story.

“And before we judge them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter our own was wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanian, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?” (Wells pg 2).

H.G. Wells summarized his views by regarding mans actions of the past. He showed how man has been the cause of the extinction of precious animals such as the bison-buffalos, and the dodo birds that once dominated our lands. Both were killed for food to maintain humans own survival, but these species also were nearly exterminated for the joy of hunting. The Tasmanians were killed for their land. The quote ends with H.G. Wells pondering his thoughts by thinking if humans have any right to judge others when we have acted like these unknown beasts; planning our extinction for their own survival, just like humans nearly eradicated the bison and dodo birds for our own. The symbolism can be seen on how man and alien are similar. Through war and the use of advance weapons man can prove its dominance over others with far less access of machines.

On October 31 1938, years later after the release of H.G. Wells infamous novel War of the Worlds, The Mercury Theater radio program played what is known as “the greatest Halloween trick of all time” (Marrow 2004). Orson Wells intent was to attract listeners to gain popularity. Orson Wells construed a fake news broadcast using H.G. Wells War of the Worlds novel. Orson Wells used the realism that H.G. Wells created with his story of alien invasion to bring chills among his readers.

Orson Wells created his setting of alien invasion in New Jersey and New York City. He terrified millions of American, and millions across the world. “In Newark, it was reported that twenty families in a single block had rushed into the street with wet towels over their faces to flee the Martians' poison gas. Responding to reports of the gas, police dispatched an ambulance, three police cars, and an emergency squad equipped with special equipment for reviving gas victims” (Marrow 2004). The broadcast was said to have made claims of notifying the National Guard, many soldiers were said to have shown up in their tanks prepared for battle.

“Stories about looming war in Europe had been in the news, and many panicked listeners thought the Martians were actually German military forces mistaken for alien invaders” (Marrow 2004). Marrows article displays the true fear that came along with that broadcast and it was the thought of a war breakout. Ed Marrow comments in his article his thoughts that H.G Wells War of the World provides the issues of how technology was “improving life, but also heightened social conflict and created more powerful weapons of war” (Morrow 2004). This is another issue associated with Aliens, which are often seen as advance intellectual beings.

History proves that the use of technological weapons to dominate is a reality. This illuminates the fear that brings H.G. Wells’ novel to life. In 1988 Saddam attacked using chemical weapon known as mustard gas; he massacred many innocent people in the town of Halabja Iraq, because the town rebelled against his oppression. This event is known as one of the most gruesome crimes in recent history. Adolf Hitler was another one of histories monsters who invaded many countries and was trying to obtain world domination through the use of advanced technological weaponry. He attempted to exterminate the entire Jewish race through the use of gas chambers and other atrocities, in which people were lead to their untimely deaths.

In recent years, after the terrorist attack of 9/11, Aliens have once again reappeared into the spotlight with films such as the remake of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and child star Dakota Fanning. In this 2005 film, the aliens are portrayed as terrorists. This movie captures similar images of that of 9/11, with the invasion of aliens causing terror and world panic; planes can be seen crashing into buildings. In this film, the fear is representative of the 9/11terrorist attack.

Another Alien movie, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2008 version, starring Keanu Reeves, the movie portrays nuclear warfare. The aliens, in this case, are trying to warn humanity to change their ways so they may prevent their own self destruction. Both films display similar concepts, one using terrorist attacks and another using technology; such as nuclear weapons.

In a 2005 article published in the Arizona Republic, headlined under Undercurrent of ‘War’: Wells ‘World,’ other Sci-Fi Confront fears of the Times. Richard Nelson writes of alien films being released stating “Films mirrored the unspoken anxiety of our times” (Nelson 2005). The 1953 film version of War of the Worlds was used to explore his ideas of the movie carrying a Cold War message. “We were at risk of invasions from aliens, and whether they were from Mars or the Soviet Union hardly mattered” (Nelson 2005). In many regard humans are aliens. Man have associated Illegal immigrants from foreign countries entering territories that man feels they are not welcome and given them the title of “illegal aliens”. Man uses this term to represent outsiders or invaders. The treatment of outsiders can be seen as inhuman.

It has been over one hundred years since H.G. Wells’ War of the World was released, and the terrifying events that played out in his stories which frighten us to this day. As our world evolves, our technology advances. The creations of dangerous weapons, such as nuclear weapons are possessed by many countries. This technology is foreign to many on Earth; therefore it is alien in nature to the average person. H.G. Wells’ captures the common mans fear, and exploits it by using the unknown to drive his literature. His use of aliens from a foreign realm seems to be a realistic affirmation of what fears we have already developed without an actual alien invasion. Wells appeared to know that people would fear the unknown, and he seems to use symbolism by exploiting their fears which would either lead us to war, or stray us from it.

　

Work Cited

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica 2009.Credo Reference. Web. 04 Nov. 2001

Nilsen, Richard “UNDERCURRENTS OF ‘WAR’: WELLS’ ‘WORLD,’ OTHER SCI-FI CONFRONT FEARS OF THE TIMES” Arizona Republic Newspaper. 1 July 2005: 1. Proquest Research Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

Morrow, ED “He Dreamed the Future” The world & I. 19.1 2004: 244-255. Proquest Research Library. Proquest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

The Day the Earth Stood Still. Dir. Scott Dickerson 20^th Century Fox. 2008. DVD.

The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 04 Nov. 2011

War of the World. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Paramount Pictures. 2005. DVD.

Wells, H.G. War of the Worlds. South Bend, IN. Infomotions, Inc. 200. Ebray. WEB. 31 Oct. 2011