Herbie Murray
H.G. Wells' 1899 novel 'When the Sleeper Wakes' is a dystopian science fiction story about a man who sleeps for over 200 years, waking up in a transformed London where he has become the richest man in the world. The novel was originally published as a serial and then as a book, with Wells later revising the story in 1910 and changing the title to 'The Sleeper Awakes'. The story explores themes of capitalist greed, mechanical force, and racial stereotypes, and has been criticised for its outdated science and prose. Despite this, it remains an influential work in the science fiction genre, inspiring films such as 'Metropolis' (1927) and 'Sleeper' (1973).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first publication | 1899 |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Genre | Dystopian science fiction |
| Publication format | Serial, book |
| Revised edition | The Sleeper Awakes (1910) |
| Main character | Graham |
| Setting | Late 21st to early 22nd century London |
| Themes | Capitalism, greed, mechanical force, social hierarchy, slavery, racial stereotypes |
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What You'll Learn
Graham wakes up in a transformed London
In the 1899 dystopian novel, When the Sleeper Wakes, Graham, an Englishman living in London in 1897, falls into a coma after consuming drugs that induce insomnia. Over two hundred years later, in the late 21st or early 22nd century, Graham wakes up in a transformed London.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented. He learns that he has inherited a vast fortune and that his wealth has been managed by trustees, known as the "White Council". While he slept, the White Council used his money to establish a vast political and economic world order, sweeping away parliament and the monarchy. Graham is now the richest and most powerful man in the world, with his money having accumulated through compound interest.
The people of London have developed a cult-like reverence for Graham, with him becoming a Messiah-like figure to them. They believe that he will lead them to freedom and rise against the oppressive rule of the White Council, who maintain a hierarchical society where most are poor and a significant portion of the population is enslaved.
As Graham wakes, there is a tumult of voices and a sense of anticipation in the air. He observes richly dressed figures on a balcony, gesticulating and laughing, seemingly unaware of his awakening. The people around Graham are alarmed, as they had not expected him to wake up, and word quickly spreads that the "Sleeper" has awakened.
Graham finds himself in a transformed London, with advances in technology and changes in society. He discovers that his fortune has shaped the world around him, and he must now navigate this new future, grappling with the power his wealth has bestowed upon him and the expectations of the people.
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Graham is now the richest man in the world
In H.G. Wells' 1899 dystopian novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, Graham is the richest man in the world. Graham, an Englishman living in London in 1897, falls into a coma after taking drugs that induce insomnia. He wakes up 203 years later in the late 21st to early 22nd century, finding himself in a transformed world.
During his two-century-long slumber, Graham's wealth has grown exponentially through compound interest, and his money has been managed by trustees known as the "White Council". They have used his fortune to establish a vast political and economic world order, buying industries and political entities to create a plutocracy. As a result, Graham becomes the sole ruler and King of the World, with his wealth and power surpassing anyone else's.
The people of this future world view Graham as a Messiah-like figure, and his sleep becomes a source of hope for the oppressed masses. They believe that when the Sleeper wakes, he will lead them to freedom and rise against the hierarchical society maintained by the White Council, where most people are poor and a significant portion are enslaved.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented and alarmed by his surroundings. He is approached by those who wish to use his wealth and influence to bring about a revolution against the White Council. Graham reluctantly joins them, but during the march, he becomes separated from the revolutionaries. He then meets an old man who tells him the story of the Sleeper, expressing his belief that the Sleeper is a fictional figure used to manipulate the population.
Overall, Graham's status as the richest man in the world drives the plot of *When the Sleeper Wakes* and shapes the expectations and beliefs of the characters within the novel.
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The White Council wants Graham dead
In H.G. Wells' 1899 dystopian novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, Graham, the main character, wakes up to find himself the richest man in the world. Over 200 years, his wealth has been used by the trustees, the "White Council", to establish a vast political and economic world order.
The White Council has good reason to fear Graham. When he learns of the vast wealth he has inherited, Graham does not react with joy or greed. Instead, he is disturbed by the knowledge that his money has been used to create a plutocracy, sweeping away parliament and the monarchy. He is further appalled by the plan to import "Negro police" to quell the rioting populace, a plan which he sees as racist and abhorrent.
Graham's moral character and his popularity with the people pose a direct challenge to the White Council's rule. They try to keep him a prisoner, but he escapes and joins the revolutionaries. The White Council's fears are realised when the rebels win and the people demand that the Sleeper should rule.
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A pseudo-revolution against the White Council
In the 1899 dystopian novel *When the Sleeper Wakes*, H.G. Wells depicts a pseudo-revolution against the White Council, the ruling class of a future society. The protagonist, Graham, falls into a coma in 1897 and wakes up over 200 years later to find himself the richest and most powerful man in the world. The vast wealth he has accumulated during his sleep has been used by the trustees of his estate, the White Council, to establish a vast political and economic world order.
The people of this future society are oppressed and uneducated, and they yearn for the Sleeper to awaken and lead them to freedom. Graham becomes a Messiah-like figure for them, and they see him as their only hope for a better future. However, when Graham wakes up, he is horrified to discover that his wealth is being used to maintain a hierarchical society where most people are poor and enslaved.
The pseudo-revolution against the White Council unfolds when Graham, unwilling to remain a prisoner, joins a faction of revolutionaries who are planning to overthrow the ruling class. They march against the White Council but are quickly attacked by the state police, and Graham gets separated from the group. He meets an old man who tells him that the Sleeper is just a figurehead used to control the population and that the White Council has swept away parliament and the monarchy to establish a plutocracy.
Despite the apparent victory of the rebels, the pseudo-revolution ultimately undermines the entire civilization. The forces unleashed during this pseudo-revolution, including the revelation that the Sleeper is just a figurehead, contribute to the downfall of the society that Graham finds himself in.
In addition to the class struggle and pseudo-revolution, Wells' novel also explores the dark side of technological progress and the potential for thought control through mass media. The novel has been criticized for its racist depictions and stereotypes, including the portrayal of "subject races" and the suggestion that "white men must be mastered by white men."
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Graham's leadership and the revolution
In H.G. Wells' 1899 novel, *When the Sleeper Wakes*, Graham, the protagonist, wakes up in the year 2100 (or the 2090s, according to some sources) after sleeping for over 200 years. During his slumber, his wealth has grown exponentially, and the trustees of his fortune, the "White Council," have established a vast political and economic world order. Graham discovers that he has become the richest and most powerful man in the world, with his money being used to uphold a hierarchical society.
The people, oppressed and enslaved, yearn for Graham's leadership to rise against the White Council and lead them to freedom. Graham is initially unconvinced but joins the revolutionaries as he is unwilling to remain a prisoner. The workers gather to prepare for the revolution and march against the White Council. However, they are soon attacked by the state police, and Graham gets separated from them.
Graham meets an old man who tells him that the Sleeper is just a figurehead, possibly a made-up figure used to control the population. According to the old man, the White Council has used the Sleeper's wealth to buy industries and political entities, establishing a plutocracy and overthrowing parliament and the monarchy. Graham then meets Ostrog, who informs him that the rebels have won and that the people want the Sleeper to rule.
The novel explores themes of capitalist greed, hierarchical power structures, and the potential for revolution. Wells' vision of the future includes technological advancements such as flying machines, automatic highways, and moving sidewalks, but he also predicts a world dominated by mechanical force and a vast wealth gap.
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Frequently asked questions
'When the Sleeper Wakes' is a dystopian novel about a man who sleeps for 203 years and wakes up in a transformed London where he has become the richest man in the world.
The main character's name is Graham.
'When the Sleeper Wakes' was first published as a serial in 1899 and later as a full-length novel in 1910.
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