Evie Summers
H.G. Wells' *When the Sleeper Wakes* is a dystopian novel first published in serial form between 1899 and 1903. The story centres on Graham, a Victorian man who falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later in a vastly different London. Upon waking, Graham discovers that he is the richest man in the world, and the owner of most of the planet. The novel explores themes of power, wealth, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancement. In this future world, a small elite known as the White Council rules, and the common people are oppressed and living in poverty. Rebels led by Ostrog help Graham escape from the White Council, and he soon finds himself in the midst of a burgeoning revolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dystopian science fiction |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Publication date | 1899 |
| Revised edition publication date | 1910 |
| Publication format | Serial |
| Revised edition publication format | Book |
| Main character | Graham |
| Setting | London |
| Setting year | 1897 to 2100 |
| Main character's sleep duration | 203 years |
| Main character's wealth | Richest man in the world |
| Governing body | White Council |
| Oppressed group | Common people |
| Rebel leader | Ostrog |
| Rebel group | Workers |
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What You'll Learn
Graham's sleep and awakening
In 1897, Graham, a Victorian man suffering from insomnia, takes a drug that he hopes will help him sleep. The drug is effective, but Graham falls into a coma and wakes up 203 years later in the year 2100.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented. The people around him are alarmed, as they did not expect him to wake up. A mob gathers, demanding to see the "Sleeper". Graham's caretakers place him under house arrest and refuse to answer his questions. He soon learns that he is the legal owner of most of the world and that a group called the White Council wants him dead. Rebels led by a man named Ostrog help Graham escape. Ostrog and the rebels want Graham to assume the role of leader in their revolution against the White Council. Graham reluctantly agrees, but he is merely a figurehead—a puppet ruler for Ostrog, the true leader.
Graham leads a carefree life of leisure. He develops an interest in aeroplanes and learns to fly. From the air, he sees just how much his country has changed while he was asleep. All agricultural work has been automated and is now handled by the cities. No one lives in the countryside or small towns anymore. Everyone now lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered metropolises.
Graham's carefree life comes to an end when Helen Wotton tells him that, for the lower class, the revolution has changed nothing. Graham confronts Ostrog, who admits that the lower classes are still dominated and exploited but defends the system. It becomes clear that Ostrog only wanted power for himself and has used the revolution and Graham to achieve his goals.
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Graham's wealth and power
In the year 1897, Graham, a Victorian man and a chronic insomniac, takes a drug that helps him sleep. He slips into a coma and wakes up in the year 2100, only to find himself in a world vastly different from the one he knew. Graham's wealth has accumulated over the years, making him the richest man in the world.
Upon waking up, Graham is disoriented and alarmed. He soon learns that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world. The people around him place him under house arrest. However, rebels led by Ostrog help him escape, believing that the people need Graham's leadership to rise against the White Council. Ostrog and the rebels want Graham to assume the role of leader, but he is reluctant and becomes a puppet ruler while Ostrog retains power.
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The White Council
In the year 1897, Graham, a Victorian man and the protagonist of H.G. Wells' "When the Sleeper Wakes", falls into a deep sleep. He wakes up 203 years later in the year 2100, in a London that is vastly different from the one he knew. Graham discovers that he is now the richest man in the world and the legal owner of most of the planet. However, the world is now ruled by a small elite known as the "White Council", and the common people are oppressed and living in poverty.
During the march, the state police attack the revolutionaries, and in the chaos, Graham gets separated from the group. He meets an old man who tells him about the "'Sleeper'" and how the White Council invested the Sleeper's money to buy up industries and political influence across the world. The old man is skeptical that the Sleeper exists, believing that he is merely a symbol used by the Council to brainwash the population.
Despite their initial losses, the rebels, led by Ostrog, eventually gain the upper hand. They want the Sleeper, Graham, to assume the role of leader. Graham agrees, but he is little more than a figurehead, with Ostrog as the true leader. This arrangement suits Graham, who leads a carefree life, pursuing his interest in aeroplanes. From the pilot's seat, he sees how much his country has changed - all agricultural work has been automated and moved to cities, and everyone now lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered metropolises.
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The workers' revolution
In 'When the Sleeper Wakes', Graham finds himself in the midst of a burgeoning revolution, with the workers rising up against the White Council that oppress them. Led by the revolutionary "boss" Ostrog, the workers aim to overthrow the ruling class and establish a new order.
Graham, disoriented and struggling to make sense of his new surroundings, is approached by the rebels. They see him as a symbol of resistance and a potential leader who can unite the people against the White Council. Despite his initial reluctance, Graham agrees to join their cause, hoping to bring about change and improve the lives of the oppressed masses.
During the chaos of the police attack, Graham is briefly separated from the revolutionaries. He takes this opportunity to interact with the people and learn more about the state of the world. Graham discovers that the White Council, in which he legally owns most of the world, has exploited his wealth and influence to solidify their grip on power. This revelation strengthens his resolve to support the workers' revolution and create a better future for society.
As the story unfolds, Graham's role becomes more complex. While he is initially seen as a figurehead and a symbol of hope for the revolutionaries, the true leader, Ostrog, manipulates him to serve his own ambitions. The workers' revolution ultimately succeeds in overthrowing the White Council, but the story invites reflection on whether the new order truly brings about the desired change or simply replaces one form of oppression with another.
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The dystopia
In this future world, Graham discovers that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world. The world is ruled by a small, powerful elite known as the "White Council," who have invested his wealth to gain control over industries and political entities worldwide. This plutocracy has abolished the existing world order, including Parliament and the monarchy in Great Britain. The common people are oppressed, living in poverty, and are now concentrated in four massive, windmill-powered metropolises. All agricultural work has been automated and is handled by the cities, with no one living in the countryside or small towns anymore.
The novel's depiction of a dystopian future is characterised by social inequality and the consequences of unchecked authority and technological progress. The White Council's power and wealth have led to the enslavement and exploitation of the working class, who are rising up in a revolution led by the rebel "boss," Ostrog. Graham, disoriented and unsure who to trust, reluctantly joins the rebels. Despite his nominal leadership of the revolution, he is a figurehead, and the true power is held by Ostrog, who manipulates the situation to seize power for himself.
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Frequently asked questions
The novel is set in London in the year 1897 and follows the story of a man named Graham, a chronic insomniac, who decides to take a drug to help him sleep. Graham falls into a coma and wakes up 203 years later in a dystopian future ruled by a small elite known as the "White Council".
When Graham wakes up, he is disoriented and the people around him are alarmed. 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. Rebels led by Ostrog help him escape and he joins their revolution against the White Council.
Graham discovers that the world has been transformed and that all agricultural work has been automated and run by the cities. Everyone lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered metropolises. He also learns about the evildoings of the White Council, which has invested his money to gain political influence and buy up industries across the world.
The main theme of the novel revolves around the concept of a dystopian future and social inequality. It explores the implications of power, wealth, and technological advancement, and challenges readers to consider the consequences of unchecked authority.
