Utopian Vision in Wells’ The World Set Free
Date
2013-03
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Central Department of English Kirtipur, Kathmandu
Abstract
H. G. Wells‘ The World Set Free captures human beings‘ perpetual quest for
euphoric and ecstatic utopian life in different stages of history. Due to excessive
development of science and technology, the historical process takes another turn
towards the end of the twentieth century – people become selfish, narrow-minded and
power hunters, which results in all-engulfing and all-destroying warfare throughout
the world. As the war is managed successfully with the help of willingness and
consensus of the world leaders and world government is formed supported by an
effective council, the utopian world is regained but with more maturity, more strength
and more stability. Reconstruction, renovation and restoration of infrastructures and
other foundations of utopian world show that utopian world after the war is not fragile
and delicate. Death and destruction dramatized in The World Set Free are undermined
by the ensuing cooperation and coordination among people. Wells‘ concept of ‗war to
end war‘ is justified in The World Set Free because the war mentioned in the novel is
the final war needed to end enmity, doubt and hostility among human beings and to
foster fraternity, friendship and fellow-feeling thereby inviting utopian blissful life.
Description
Keywords
Novel, English literature, The World Set Free