3. Anthropocentrism

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about the theme of anthropocentrism in the novel, i.e. the idea that humans are the central, most important form of life in the universe, focusing in particular on the humans' underestimation of the threat posed by the Martian invaders, the tendency for characters to anthropomorphise the Martians, and the impact of the Martian invasion on humanity's anthropocentrism.

Course

In this course, Dr Steve McLean explores H. G. Wells' 1898 novel The War of the Worlds. We begin by thinking about Wells' literary career, focusing in particular on his work as a scientific journalist as well as his interest in the social and political issues of the day. After that, we think about how the novel engages with contemporary theories about the possibility of extra-terrestrial life and the ethics of imperialism. In the third module, we think about the theme of anthropocentrism in the novel, before turning in the fourth module to Well's presentation of war and warfare and how this relates to issues of narration and narrative reliability. In the fifth module, we explore the theme of evolution in the novel (focusing in particular on the ethics of evolution) before moving on in the sixth and final module to consider Wells' engagement with contemporary debates about science and religion – especially the theory of natural selection.

Lecturer

Steven McLean is the author of The Early Fiction of H. G. Wells, and editor of H. G. Wells: Interdisciplinary Essays. He has written numerous articles and encyclopedic entries on Wells. He has also written on Emile Zola and on literature and aeronautics. Steven has taught at universities in the United Kingdom and in Asia.