Evie Summers
When the Sleeper Wakes, also known as The Sleeper Awakes, is an 1899 dystopian science fiction novel by H.G. Wells. The story follows a man who falls into a 203-year sleep, waking up in a transformed London where he has become the richest man, and even the owner, of the world. The sleeper, named Graham, finds himself in a position of power but is met with unrest and must navigate an unfamiliar world. The novel is considered a brilliant tale of oppression, betrayal, and mistrust, showcasing Wells' progressive visions for the future of society.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Publication | 1899 |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Genre | Dystopian science fiction |
| Type | Novel |
| Publication | Serialised in The Graphic (London) and Harper's Weekly (New York) |
| Publication Dates | 7 January to 5 May 1899 |
| Revised Version | The Sleeper Awakes (1910) |
| Plot | A man sleeps for 203 years, waking up in a transformed London to find he is the richest man in the world |
| Themes | Oppression, betrayal, mistrust, revolution, dictatorship, anti-utopianism |
| Influence | Influenced the Wright Brothers' flyer design |
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What You'll Learn
A man sleeps for 203 years
In the 1899 dystopian novel, "When the Sleeper Wakes", a man sleeps for 203 years, waking up to a transformed London in the late 21st to early 22nd century. The protagonist, Graham, is disoriented upon waking up, as the people around him did not expect him to wake up and are alarmed. Graham, previously a man of no significance, discovers that he has become the richest man in the world. His accumulated wealth has been used by the 'White Council' to establish a new political and economic world order, and he is now the legal owner and master of most of the world.
As word spreads that the "Sleeper" has awakened, a mob gathers, demanding to see him. Instead, Graham is placed under house arrest, confused and afraid. Rebels led by Ostrog help him escape, saying that the people need his leadership to rise against the White Council. Unconvinced but unwilling to remain a prisoner, Graham joins them. He soon learns that Ostrog only wants to take power for himself and has used the revolution and Graham to do so. Ostrog retains power while Graham becomes his puppet ruler.
Graham takes an interest in aeroplanes and learns how to fly. From the air, he sees that no one lives in the country or small towns anymore, and that all agriculture is run like industry. He also notices that there are now only four huge cities in Britain, all powered by huge windmills. Graham's carefree life comes to an end when he realises that, for the lower class, the revolution has changed nothing. Ostrog admits that the lower classes are still dominated and exploited, but he defends the system.
"When the Sleeper Wakes" is a tale of oppression, betrayal, and mistrust. It is considered a prototype of the anti-utopian novel, combining technological and social speculation in a way that is unmatched in the history of futuristic literature. H.G. Wells, the author, was not a fan of the novel, feeling that he had rushed the ending. In 1910, he published a revised version titled "The Sleeper Awakes".
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Wakes up to a transformed London
In the 1899 novel "When the Sleeper Wakes", H.G. Wells takes readers on a journey into the future, to the year 2100. The protagonist, Graham, is an Englishman living in London in 1897. He takes drugs to cure his insomnia but instead falls into a coma, sleeping for 203 years.
When Graham finally wakes up, he finds himself in a transformed London. The city is now a dystopian metropolis, and Graham is disoriented by the changes that have taken place during his long sleep. He discovers that he is now the richest man in the world, as his wealth has accumulated beyond his wildest dreams. However, he is met with alarm and confusion. The people around him did not expect him to wake up, and a mob gathers, demanding to see the fabled "Sleeper".
Graham is placed under house arrest and learns that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world. He escapes with the help of rebels led by Ostrog, who want him to lead their revolution against the White Council. Graham discovers that the White Council has used his wealth to establish a new political and economic world order. As he explores the city, he notices that agriculture is now run like industry, and that there are only four huge cities in Britain, all powered by massive windmills.
Graham's carefree life comes to an end when he realises that the revolution has changed nothing for the lower class, who are still dominated and exploited. He questions Ostrog, who admits that the system benefits him and that he only wanted to take power for himself. Graham's idealistic vision for the future is shattered as he navigates a world of oppression, betrayal, and mistrust.
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Is now the richest man in the world
In the 1899 novel "When the Sleeper Wakes", the protagonist Graham becomes the richest man in the world after sleeping for 203 years. During his sleep, the White Council uses his inherited wealth to establish a new political and economic world order, and he becomes the legal owner of most of the world.
The novel is set in a dystopian future, specifically the year 2100, and was written by H.G. Wells, who is considered the "father of science fiction". It was first published as a serial in The Graphic (London) and Harper's Weekly (New York) and featured illustrations by Henri Lanos.
In the story, Graham, an Englishman living in London in 1897, takes insomnia-curing drugs and falls into a coma. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a completely transformed London and is initially disoriented. He is placed under house arrest and learns that he is now the owner and leader of the world. However, the White Council does not want him to reclaim his power. Confused and afraid, he joins a group of rebels who help him escape in exchange for his support in their revolution against the White Council.
Despite his wealth and position of power, Graham soon discovers that the future is not as utopian as he expected. He observes that agriculture is run like industry, and that there are only four huge cities in Britain, all powered by windmills. He also learns that the lower classes are still dominated and exploited, even after a revolution.
"When the Sleeper Wakes" is a brilliant tale that plunges both the reader and the protagonist into an unfamiliar world, slowly unfolding the future and exploring themes of oppression, betrayal, and mistrust.
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The future is dystopian
The novel explores themes of oppression, betrayal, and mistrust, as Graham navigates a future that is unfamiliar and unsettling. Wells' depiction of the future is dark and bleak, with a clear distinction between the elite, who live in the upper reaches of the city, and the exploited masses, who are confined to the underground. This segregation is indicative of a dystopian society, where inequality and social stratification have reached extreme levels.
The world that Graham wakes up to is one where agriculture is run like industry, and only four huge cities, powered by windmills, remain in Britain. The novel also predicts the use of aeroplanes and green energy, showcasing Wells' prophetic vision of the future. However, it is important to note that Wells himself was not a fan of the novel, feeling that he had rushed the ending. He later published a revised version in 1910, titled "The Sleeper Awakes", which included updates to the 'flying machines' and removed any signs of a love interest between characters.
"When the Sleeper Wakes" is a seminal text in the history of dystopian literature, influencing many future works in the genre. It showcases Wells' incredible insight into the potential progression of society and serves as a warning of the dangers that lie ahead if power and wealth are allowed to accumulate in the hands of a select few. The novel invites readers to question the role of technology in shaping the future and the potential consequences of unrest and revolution in a world that has become increasingly unfamiliar and unsettling.
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He joins a revolution
In 'When the Sleeper Wakes', Graham finds himself in a peculiar situation. After taking insomnia-curing drugs, he falls into a coma and wakes up 203 years later in the year 2100. He discovers that he is now the richest man in the world, with his accumulated wealth being used by the ''White Council'' to establish a new political and economic world order. However, the council does not intend to hand back the power to Graham.
Confused and afraid, Graham is placed under house arrest. Soon, a mob gathers, demanding to see the fabled Sleeper. Rebels, led by Ostrog, help Graham escape his imprisonment. They believe that the people need Graham's leadership to rise against the White Council. Unconvinced of their cause but eager to break free, Graham joins the revolutionaries.
Graham accompanies the rebels to a massive hall where workers have gathered to prepare for the revolution. Together, they march against the White Council but are swiftly attacked by the state police. In the ensuing chaos, Graham becomes separated from the group. He is now alone in a strange new world.
Graham meets an old man who shares the story of the Sleeper with him. According to the old man, the White Council used Graham's wealth to gain control over industries and political entities worldwide. The Sleeper, he believes, is a fictional figure created to manipulate the population. Ostrog, the rebel leader, reinforces this idea, urging Graham to take power as the Sleeper.
As Graham settles into his new role, he becomes intrigued by aeroplanes and learns to fly. From the sky, he notices significant changes in the country's infrastructure. Agriculture is now industrialised, and the population is concentrated in four massive cities powered by wind energy. Ostrog manipulates Graham to serve his own interests, and it becomes clear that the revolution has not improved the lives of the lower classes. Ostrog admits that the lower classes are still exploited, defending the system he helped create.
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Frequently asked questions
'When the Sleeper Wakes' is a dystopian tale about a Londoner named Graham who takes insomnia-curing drugs one night in 1897, only to wake up 203 years later in the year 2100. During his sleep, the world has transformed, and a group called the 'White Council' has used his inherited wealth to establish a new world order, making him the richest man in the world.
The fact that H.G. Wells wrote this prophetic novel in the last year of the 19th century is notable. He predicted the use of aeroplanes, green energy, and dictatorship, and his vision of the future influenced the Wright Brothers in the design of their flyer.
The revised version of the novel, published in 1910, is called 'The Sleeper Awakes'. Wells changed the title when the book was reprinted and made a number of alterations, including removing signs of any love interest between characters.
