The War of the Worlds: Character Analysis

The Narrator

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• First Encounter with the Martians
  • The narrator witnesses the arrival of the Martians and the devastating impact of the Heat-Ray on Horsell Common. His initial shock transitions to a focus on survival as he realises the gravity of the threat.
• Reunion with the Artilleryman
  • After being separated, the narrator reunites with the artilleryman, who shares his grandiose plans for human survival. The narrator initially entertains these ideas but ultimately recognises the artilleryman's impracticality and leaves him to seek a more realistic approach.
• Imprisonment with the Curate
  • The narrator and the curate are trapped in a ruined house, where the curate's erratic behaviour endangers them both. The narrator's patience wears thin, and he is forced to knock the curate unconscious to silence him, ultimately leading to the curate's death at the hands of the Martians.
• Escape and Reflection
  • Following his narrow escape from the Martians, the narrator experiences a moment of reflection on the broader implications of the invasion, considering the Martians' depletion of resources and their relentless quest for survival.
• Return to London
  • The narrator returns to London, finding the city eerily empty and the Martians dead due to Earth's bacteria. He reunites with his wife, reflecting on the invasion's impact and the fragile nature of human existence.

Key Themes

• Survival and Human Resilience
  • The narrator's journey underscores the theme of survival, highlighting the resilience and adaptability required to endure the Martian threat.
• Existential Threat and Human Vulnerability
  • The invasion forces the narrator to confront humanity's vulnerability in the face of an advanced and hostile alien species, raising questions about the sustainability of human civilisation.
• Detachment and Coping Mechanisms
  • The narrator's emotional detachment serves as a coping mechanism, enabling him to navigate the traumatic events and maintain a semblance of sanity amidst the chaos.

Key Quotes

"At times I suffer from the strangest sense of detachment from myself and the world about me."

• This quote illustrates the narrator's psychological coping mechanism, allowing him to distance himself from the horrors of the invasion.

"What good is religion if it collapses under calamity?"

• The narrator challenges the curate's reliance on faith, emphasising the need for practical action in the face of disaster.

"I began to comfort her and myself by repeating all that Ogilvy had told me of the impossibility of the Martians establishing themselves on the earth."

• The narrator tries to reassure his wife (and himself) about the Martians' inability to survive on Earth, reflecting his initial denial and need for hope.

"Be a man! You are scared out of your wits!"

• This quote captures the narrator's frustration with the curate's hysteria, highlighting the tension between reason and fear during the crisis.

"He was one of those weak creatures, void of pride, timorous, anemic, hateful souls, full of shifty cunning, who face neither God nor man, who face not even themselves."

• The narrator's harsh assessment of the curate's character, emphasises his disdain for those who cannot cope with the reality of their situation.

The Artilleryman

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• First Meeting with the Narrator
  • The artilleryman recounts his harrowing escape from a Martian attack and shares his survival plan, impressing the narrator with his determination and vision.
• Grand Plans for the Future
  • He outlines his vision of an underground society of strong, intelligent humans, free from the weaknesses of contemporary civilisation. This plan initially captivates the narrator but later reveals its flaws.
• Digging the Tunnels
  • The narrator joins the artilleryman in his attempt to dig a tunnel to connect to London's sewer system. The artilleryman's inefficient methods and frequent breaks highlight his lack of practicality and work ethic.
• Revelation of Character
  • As the artilleryman's true nature becomes apparent, the narrator recognises his vanity and unrealistic ambitions. This realisation prompts the narrator to abandon him and continue his journey alone.
• Final Encounter
  • The artilleryman's defeatist attitude contrasts sharply with his earlier zeal. He accepts the Martians' dominance with a peculiar sense of relief, revealing a deeper disconnection from societal norms.

Key Themes

• Survival of the Fittest
  • The artilleryman's plan reflects a Social Darwinist perspective, emphasising the survival of the strong and the elimination of the weak. This theme explores the ethical implications of such a worldview.
• Reality vs. Idealism
  • The disparity between the artilleryman's grandiose ideas and his practical capabilities highlights the tension between idealism and reality in times of crisis.
• Human Nature and Vanity
  • The artilleryman's character embodies human vanity and the flaws in utopian thinking, suggesting that personal ambition can undermine collective survival efforts.

Key Quotes

"The risk is that we who keep wild will go savage—degenerate into a sort of big, savage rat…"

• This quote encapsulates the artilleryman's fear of degeneration and his desire to maintain a pure and strong human race.

"We're not going to pick up any rubbish that drifts in. Weaklings go out again."

• His exclusionary vision of survival, based on strength and utility, reflects his Social Darwinist mindset.

"It is all over with humanity. If they can do that they will simply go round the world."

• The artilleryman's pessimistic acceptance of the Martians' dominance contrasts with his earlier ambitious plans, showing his ultimate resignation.

"It's the man that keeps on thinking [who] comes through."

• He values intellectual resilience, yet his actions reveal a lack of practical follow-through.

"Life is real again, and the useless and cumbersome and mischievous have to die. They ought to die."

• This quote highlights the brutal and unforgiving nature of his survival philosophy.

The Curate

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• Initial Despair
  • The curate's immediate reaction to the Martian invasion is one of profound despair, questioning the moral and theological implications of the catastrophe.
• Seeking Shelter
  • After encountering the narrator, the curate travels with him and they find temporary refuge in an abandoned house. His emotional instability begins to surface, exacerbating the tension between the two men.
• Conflict over Rations
  • Trapped together with limited supplies, the curate's inability to ration food causes significant friction. His selfishness and lack of foresight threaten both their lives.
• Descent into Madness
  • As the days pass, the curate's mental state deteriorates. His loud outbursts and reckless behaviour force the narrator to take drastic measures to silence him, leading to the curate's ultimate demise.
• Death
  • The curate's loud behaviour attracts the attention of the Martians, resulting in his death. This moment highlights the stark contrast between his despair-driven actions and the narrator's survival instincts.

Key Themes

• Faith vs. Reason
  • The curate's reliance on faith contrasts with the narrator's rational approach, highlighting the conflict between religious belief and practical survival in the face of existential threats.
• Despair and Helplessness
  • The curate's character embodies despair and helplessness, illustrating the detrimental effects of losing hope and the inability to adapt to new realities.
• Human Weakness
  • The curate's behaviour underscores themes of human weakness and the fragility of those unable to cope with catastrophic change, serving as a critique of his dependency on faith without action.

Key Quotes

"Why are these things permitted? What sins have we done?"

• The curate's despairing question reflects his struggle to understand the invasion through a religious lens, highlighting his helplessness.

"This must be the beginning of the end."

• His fatalistic outlook demonstrates his inability to adapt and cope with the new reality.

"The end! The great and terrible day of the Lord!"

• The curate's exclamation ties the Martian invasion to apocalyptic religious imagery, showcasing his reliance on theological explanations for the crisis.

"He was one of those weak creatures, void of pride, timorous, anemic, hateful souls, full of shifty cunning, who face neither God nor man, who face not even themselves."

• The narrator's harsh judgment of the curate highlights the latter's ineffectiveness and lack of resilience.

"It is just, O God! It is just. On me and mine be the punishment laid. We have sinned, we have fallen short."

• The curate's final moments are marked by his desperate attempt to find religious meaning in the chaos, underscoring his ultimate failure to adapt.

The Narrator's Brother

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• Learning About the Invasion
  • Upon hearing of the invasion, he attempts to visit his brother in Woking but is thwarted by train disruptions. This highlights the initial underestimation of the Martian threat and the subsequent realization of its severity.
• Fleeing London
  • As panic spreads in London, he flees the city on a bicycle, showcasing his quick thinking and determination to survive.
• Rescuing Mrs. Elphinstone and Her Sister-in-Law
  • He encounters two women being robbed and fights off the criminals, demonstrating his courage and sense of duty.
• Joining Forces
  • He joins the women and devises a plan to escape the country, pooling their resources to secure passage on a boat.
• Witnessing the Battle
  • As they sail away, they witness a rare human victory against the Martians, providing a glimmer of hope and illustrating human resilience.

Key Themes

• Survival and Resourcefulness
  • His actions reflect the human instinct to survive and adapt in dire circumstances.
• Courage and Sacrifice
  • His bravery in rescuing others and his willingness to fight for survival highlight themes of heroism and sacrifice.
• Human Resilience
  • His journey underscores the resilience and determination of humans in the face of overwhelming odds.

Key Quotes

"Finally, when all of London has worked itself into hysteria, he flees the city on a bicycle."

• This quote encapsulates the widespread panic and the brother's quick decision-making.

"He encounters two women getting robbed in their carriage by three men."

• Highlights his bravery and willingness to help others.

"As the narrator's brother and the Elphinstone women sail away from England, they watch the Thunder Child as it successfully overpowers the fighting machines."

• Illustrates a rare moment of human triumph over the Martians.

The Narrator's Wife

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• Initial Panic
  • The narrator describes her fear and panic when he recounts the Martian attack on Ogilvy, illustrating the immediate emotional impact of the invasion.
• Decision to Flee
  • Together with the narrator, she decides to flee to Leatherhead to stay with relatives, highlighting the disruption and chaos caused by the invasion.
• Separation
  • She is left in Leatherhead as the narrator returns to Woking, leading to a prolonged separation that becomes a central focus for the narrator.
• Narrator's Quest
  • The narrator's continuous worry and determination to reunite with her provide emotional motivation throughout the novel.
• Reunion
  • Their eventual reunion after the Martians' defeat by earthly bacteria symbolizes hope and resilience.

Key Themes

• Love and Commitment
  • Her relationship with the narrator underscores the enduring bonds of love and the personal stakes within a global crisis.
• Emotional Toll
  • Her presence highlights the emotional toll of the invasion on families and relationships.
• Fear and Hope
  • Her experiences reflect the fear and uncertainty faced by civilians, contrasted with the hope of reunion and survival.

Key Quotes

"Her face goes white with fear"

• Illustrates the immediate emotional impact of the Martian threat.

"They decide to flee to Leatherhead"

• Highlights the disruption caused by the invasion and their efforts to find safety.

"Finding her again becomes his ultimate goal"

• Emphasizes the emotional motivation driving the narrator.

Ogilvy

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• Observing Mars
  • He first alerts the narrator to the explosions on Mars, demonstrating his scientific curiosity and observational skills.
• Encountering the Cylinder
  • He is the first to find the Martian cylinder, marking the beginning of the invasion.
• Attempting Communication
  • His attempt to communicate with the Martians by waving a white flag results in his immediate death, illustrating the deadly nature of the invaders.
• Sharing Theories
  • He theorizes about the Martians' inability to survive on Earth due to gravity, a belief that proves tragically incorrect.
• Impact on Narrator
  • Despite his death, the narrator often recalls Ogilvy's theories to reassure himself and his wife, highlighting Ogilvy's lasting influence.

Key Themes

• Scientific Curiosity and Hubris
  • Ogilvy embodies the human quest for knowledge and the hubris that can accompany it, underestimating the Martian threat.
• Tragic Consequences
  • His death serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of underestimating new and unknown threats.
• The Unknown
  • His encounters with the Martians illustrate the dangers of the unknown and humanity's often limited understanding.

Key Quotes

"The chances against anything man-like on Mars are a million to one."

• Reflects his scientific reasoning and underestimation of the Martian threat.

"Ogilvy is one of the first humans to die when the Martians arrive."

• Highlights the immediate and deadly nature of the Martian invasion.

"In an attempt to communicate with the aliens, he and a small group of men approach the cylinder while waving a white flag."

• Demonstrates his bravery and tragic miscalculation.

Mrs. Elphinstone

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• First Encounter with the Narrator's Brother
  • Mrs. Elphinstone and her sister-in-law are being attacked by three men when the narrator's brother comes to their aid.
  • They decide to travel together to escape the Martian invasion.
• Decision to Flee
  • Despite her initial hesitance, Mrs Elphinstone agrees to travel with her sister-in-law and the narrator's brother after being convinced of the necessity to keep moving to ensure their safety.
• Journey to Safety
  • The group encounters a mass of fleeing people and the devastation caused by the Martians. Mrs Elphinstone's fear and anxiety are palpable during this journey.
• An incident with the Man Collecting Coins
  • The group witnesses a man obsessively collecting coins despite the danger, which underscores the madness induced by the crisis.
  • This scene reflects Mrs. Elphinstone's struggle with maintaining a semblance of sanity amidst the chaos.
• Escape from the Crowd
  • Mrs Elphinstone and the group finally break free from the crowd after an extended struggle, highlighting her perseverance and determination to survive despite overwhelming fear.

Key Themes

• Survival and Resilience
  • Mrs Elphinstone's journey reflects the broader theme of human resilience in the face of catastrophic events.
  • Her determination to find her husband and survive highlights the human spirit's tenacity.
• Fear and Anxiety
  • Her character embodies the intense fear and anxiety experienced by civilians during the invasion, portraying the psychological impact of such a crisis.
• Dependence and Trust
  • Her reliance on the narrator's brother and her sister-in-law signifies the importance of trust and cooperation in survival situations.

Key Quotes

"Mrs. Elphinstone can hardly take her mind off finding her husband, thus making it difficult for the narrator's brother to convince her to travel onward."

• This quote highlights her overwhelming concern for her husband and her struggle to focus on immediate survival​​.

"At the sight of the sea, Mrs. Elphinstone, in spite of the assurances of her sister-in-law, gave way to panic."

• This quote illustrates her deep-seated fear and anxiety during their escape​​.

"She seemed, poor woman, to imagine that the French and the Martians might prove very similar."

• This reflects her irrational fears exacerbated by the crisis, showing how the invasion affects her mental state​​.

The Innkeeper

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• Loaning the Horse and Dogcart
  • The innkeeper lends his horse and dogcart to the narrator, allowing him and his wife to flee to Leatherhead.
  • This act of assistance is crucial for the narrator's initial escape plan.
• Death of the Innkeeper
  • Upon the narrator's return, he discovers that the innkeeper has been killed, having been flung against a fence by the Martians.
  • This moment underscores the widespread and indiscriminate nature of the Martian destruction.

Key Themes

• The Fragility of Civilisation
  • The innkeeper's death symbolizes the fragility of human life and civilisation in the face of superior alien technology and power.
• Randomness of Destruction
  • His death highlights the random and chaotic nature of the Martian attacks, showing that no one is safe from the devastation.

Key Quotes

"The innkeeper owns a horse and dogcart, both of which he lends to the narrator for two pounds on the condition that both be returned by midnight."

• This quote emphasizes the initial normalcy and the innkeeper's trust in the narrator​​.

"When he returns, he finds that the innkeeper has been flung against a fence and killed."

• This stark revelation highlights the sudden and violent impact of the Martian invasion on ordinary individuals​​.

Henderson

Overview

Key Plot Moments

• Believing Ogilvy
  • Henderson is the first person to believe Ogilvy about the Martian cylinder, demonstrating his open-mindedness and readiness to act on new information​​.
• Sending the Telegraph
  • He quickly sends a telegraph to London about the mysterious arrival, attempting to alert the authorities and the public about the Martian presence​​.
• Approaching the Cylinder
  • Henderson joins Ogilvy and other men in approaching the Martian cylinder with a white flag, hoping to communicate with the Martians.
  • This act of bravery and hope for peaceful communication underscores his character.
• Death by Heat-Ray
  • Henderson is quickly killed by the Martian Heat Ray, making him one of the first victims of the Martian technology and illustrating the lethal danger posed by the invaders.

Key Themes

• The Role of the Media
  • Henderson's role as a journalist highlights the importance of media in disseminating information during crises, even though his efforts are cut short by the Martians.
• Human Curiosity and Bravery
  • His actions demonstrate the human desire to understand and communicate, as well as the bravery to face unknown dangers.

Key Quotes

"Henderson is the first person to actually believe Ogilvy about the cylinder, and he hurries to see for himself."

• This quote emphasizes Henderson's willingness to investigate and verify new information​​.

"Along with Ogilvy, Henderson is part of the group of men who approach the cylinder with a white flag in the hopes of communicating with the Martians."

• This quote highlights his hope for peaceful communication and his bravery​​.

"Like Ogilvy, though, he is quickly scorched to death by the Heat-Ray."

• This quote starkly illustrates the lethal consequences of their attempt to communicate with the Martians and the deadly nature of the invasion​​.