Gina Johnson
In H.G. Wells' 1899 dystopian novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, a Victorian man, Graham, falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later to a vastly different London. During his slumber, Graham's wealth grows exponentially, and he wakes up to find himself the richest and most powerful man in the world. However, he is met with alarm and apprehension, and soon learns that a group called the White Council has been managing his wealth, using it to establish a new world order and solidifying their dominance. The story unfolds amidst a backdrop of revolution, as workers led by Ostrog rise up against the oppressive rule of the White Council. The conflict in the novel centres around this power struggle, with Graham caught between the opposing forces and ultimately becoming a figurehead leader for the rebels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dystopian science fiction |
| Publication date | 1899 |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Original title | When the Sleeper Wakes |
| Revised title | The Sleeper Awakes |
| Publication format | Serial, book |
| Main character | Graham |
| Number of years slept | 200-203 |
| Year Graham wakes up | 2100 |
| Location | London |
| Graham's wealth | Owner of most of the world |
| Antagonist | The White Council |
| Ally | Ostrog |
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What You'll Learn
The Sleeper wakes up after 203 years to a transformed London
In H.G. Wells' dystopian novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, Graham, a Victorian man, falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later to a transformed London. Graham was a chronic insomniac who, in 1897, decided to take a drug to help him sleep. The drug induces a coma, and Graham sleeps for over two centuries, finally waking up in the year 2100.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented. The people around him are alarmed and do not want to answer his questions. Instead, they place him under house arrest. Graham soon learns that he is now the richest and most powerful man in the world. While he slept, he inherited a large sum of money, which was managed and invested by a group called the White Council. They used his wealth to establish political and social dominance, investing in a new world order and buying up industries and political entities across the world. As a result, they have abolished the existing world order, including Parliament and the monarchy in Great Britain.
The common people, oppressed by the White Council, view Graham as a mythical liberator. Rebels, led by Ostrog, help Graham escape from his arrest, hoping that he will lead them in a revolution against the White Council. Graham reluctantly joins them, but he is unsure who to trust. During a march, the revolutionaries are attacked by the state police, and Graham is separated from the group. He meets an old man who tells him about the White Council's evil deeds and their manipulation of Graham's wealth and power.
Graham discovers that London has been transformed into a gleaming steel and glass metropolis, with everything automated and mechanized. There is no more countryside in England, and all agricultural work is now handled by the cities. The entire population lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered metropolises. Graham's awakening sends shockwaves throughout London, from the highest echelons of power to the workers in the factories.
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The Sleeper is now the richest man in the world
In H.G. Wells' dystopian novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, the Sleeper, Graham, is the richest man in the world. Graham, a Victorian man, falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later in a vastly different London. During his two centuries of slumber, his wealth has grown exponentially through compound interest, and he now owns most of the world.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented and alarmed by his surroundings. He soon discovers that his awakening has caused a stir, and a mob gathers, demanding to see the legendary Sleeper. The people around him refuse to answer his questions and instead place him under house arrest. Graham learns that a group called the White Council has been managing his wealth in his absence, investing it to establish their vision of political and social dominance. The White Council wants Graham dead, but he is rescued by rebels led by Ostrog, who want him to lead their revolution against the oppressive rule of the Council.
Graham reluctantly joins the rebels, but he is unsure who to trust. He learns more about the White Council's actions from an old man he meets during the march, who tells him that the Council has used the Sleeper's wealth to buy up industries and political entities worldwide, creating a plutocracy that abolished the existing world order. The old man, however, is sceptical that the Sleeper is real, believing him to be a symbol used to control the population.
Despite the Sleeper's immense wealth and his position as the most powerful man in the world, he is a figurehead, and his role in the revolution is largely symbolic. Ostrog is the true leader, manipulating Graham to seize power for himself. Graham leads a carefree life, indulging his interest in aeroplanes and learning to fly. From the air, he sees the extent of the changes in his country, with all agriculture now automated and everyone living and working in one of four massive, windmill-powered cities.
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The Sleeper is arrested and learns the truth about the White Council
In H.G. Wells' dystopian novel, 'When the Sleeper Wakes', Graham, the Sleeper, wakes up to a very different world 203 years after falling asleep. He is now the richest man in the world, and the people around him are alarmed by his awakening. Graham is met with a mob demanding to see the legendary Sleeper, but his questions are not answered. Instead, he is placed under house arrest.
Graham learns that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world. He discovers that after he fell asleep, he inherited a large sum of money, which was managed by trustees called the White Council. The Council invested his wealth to gain political and social dominance, buying up industries and political entities worldwide, and establishing a new world order. This resulted in a plutocracy that abolished the existing world order, including the Parliament and monarchy in Great Britain.
The White Council wants Graham dead and attempts to assassinate him. However, rebels led by the revolutionary Ostrog help him escape. Ostrog and the rebels want Graham's leadership in their revolution against the White Council, which is enslaving the workers. Graham reluctantly joins them, even though he is unsure whom to trust. He soon finds himself in the midst of a burgeoning revolution.
During a march, the state police attack the revolutionaries, and Graham is separated from the group. He meets an old man who tells him about the evildoings of the White Council and their investments of the Sleeper's money. The old man, however, is sceptical that the Sleeper exists, believing him to be a mere symbol used by the Council to brainwash the population. Despite his doubts, the old man urges Graham to assume the role of leader, knowing that Ostrog is the true power behind the throne.
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The Sleeper escapes arrest with the help of Ostrog and the rebels
In the dystopian novel, "When the Sleeper Wakes", Graham, the Sleeper, finds himself in a predicament where he is placed under house arrest by the people surrounding him. These people, who are part of the White Council, have been managing his wealth and investments for 203 years while he was asleep, and now want him dead. However, with the help of Ostrog and the rebels, Graham is able to escape his captors.
The rebels, led by the revolutionary boss Ostrog, play a crucial role in aiding Graham's escape from the White Council. Ostrog and his followers approach Graham, offering him a way out of his imprisonment. Graham, unsure of who to trust, reluctantly agrees to join them. He soon finds himself at the heart of a burgeoning revolution, as the workers rise up against the oppressive rule of the White Council.
During a march against the White Council, the state police attack the revolutionaries, causing chaos and confusion. In the midst of this turmoil, Graham becomes separated from the rebels. However, he encounters a wizened old man who provides him with crucial information about the White Council's actions while he was asleep. The old man reveals that the Council had invested Graham's wealth to gain control of industries and political entities worldwide, solidifying their power and influence.
With the knowledge gained from the old man, Graham reunites with Ostrog and the rebels. They recognize Graham's symbolic importance as the Sleeper and want him to assume the role of leader in their revolution. Graham agrees, understanding that he is merely a figurehead while Ostrog retains the true power. This arrangement suits Graham, as it allows him to lead a carefree life, exploring his newfound interest in aeroplanes and learning to fly.
From his aerial perspective, Graham witnesses the drastic changes that have transformed his country. All agricultural work has been automated and centralized within four massive, windmill-powered metropolises. England's countryside has disappeared, and everyone now resides and works within these sprawling cities. Graham's escape from arrest marks a pivotal moment in the story, setting him on a path towards understanding the true nature of the world he has awakened to.
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The Sleeper becomes a figurehead leader for the revolution
In H.G. Wells' dystopian novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, Graham, a Victorian man, falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later in a transformed London. During his sleep, his wealth has grown, and he is now the richest and most powerful man in the world. The people of London, who are oppressed and live in a society rife with social injustice, view Graham as a messianic figure who will liberate them from their misery.
Upon waking, Graham is arrested by the White Council, a group of trustees who have been managing his wealth. The Council wants Graham dead and attempts to assassinate him, but he is rescued by rebels led by Ostrog, a revolutionary "boss". Ostrog and the rebels want Graham to assume the role of leader of their revolution against the White Council. Graham agrees, but he is merely a figurehead, as Ostrog is the true leader.
As a figurehead leader, Graham leads a carefree life of leisure. He develops an interest in aeroplanes and learns how to fly. From his aerial perspective, he witnesses the extent of his country's transformation. England's countryside has disappeared, with all agricultural work now automated and handled by cities. The entire population of Britain lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered metropolises.
Graham's role as a figurehead leader for the revolution is symbolic, as the people of London have placed their hopes and aspirations for freedom and change in him. However, the true power lies with Ostrog, who manipulates the situation to seize power for himself. The Sleeper's awakening and his subsequent leadership of the revolution are pivotal moments in the novel, highlighting the power dynamics and social unrest present in this futuristic dystopia.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sleeper Wakes is a dystopian novel by H.G. Wells, first published in serial form between 1899 and 1903. It centres on Graham, a Victorian man who falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later in a very different London.
When the Sleeper, Graham, wakes up, he is disoriented. The people around him are alarmed as they did not expect him to wake up. Word spreads that the "Sleeper" has awakened and a mob gathers, demanding to see him. Graham is placed under house arrest and learns that he is the legal owner of most of the world.
The conflict in 'When the Sleeper Wakes' arises from the tension between the manipulative exploiters, the White Council, and the socialist masses, the workers. The common people view the Sleeper as a mythical liberator and want his leadership to rise against the oppressive White Council.
