Ashwin Lewis
When the Sleeper Wakes is a dystopian science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, first published in serial form in 1899 and later as a full-length novel in 1910. The story centres on Graham, a Victorian man who falls into a coma after taking a sleeping drug and wakes up 203 years later in a transformed London, finding himself to be the richest and most powerful man in the world. The novel explores themes of wealth, power, and social and political dominance in a futuristic setting, and has inspired various works of science fiction literature and film.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first publication | 1899 |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Genre | Dystopian science fiction |
| Publication format | Serial, book, and revised edition |
| Main character | Graham |
| Story setting | Late 21st to early 22nd century London |
| Sleep duration for the main character | 203 years |
| Main character's status | Richest man in the world |
| Post-sleep London characteristics | Steel and glass metropolis, highly automated and mechanized |
| Trustees of the main character's wealth | The White Council |
| Revolutionaries' leader | Ostrog |
| Agricultural work location | Moved to cities |
| Number of huge cities in Britain | Four |
| Power source for the cities | Windmill |
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What You'll Learn
The Sleeper's wealth and power
In H.G. Wells' 1899 novel, When the Sleeper Wakes, the protagonist, Graham, is a 19th-century insomniac who falls into a 203-year slumber. Upon awakening in the year 2100, he finds himself in a transformed London, a gleaming steel and glass metropolis with advanced technology and automation. Graham's wealth has accumulated exponentially during his long sleep, turning him into the richest man in the world.
The source of Graham's wealth is a trust fund that he inherited before falling asleep. During his coma, a group called the White Council managed his money, investing it to buy up industries and political entities across the world. They established a new world order, abolishing existing governments and monarchies. As a result, Graham technically owns half the world and is the most powerful man alive, although the White Council wants him dead.
Graham's wealth and power are not just symbolic or financial; they have tangible impacts on the world he wakes up to. His wealth has allowed the White Council to reshape global politics and economics, creating a plutocracy. Graham's power is so great that he becomes a legendary figure, with his awakening spreading through the city and people demanding to see him. Despite his wealth and power, Graham is disoriented and confused, struggling to understand the changes that have occurred during his sleep.
Graham's wealth and power are also connected to the novel's themes of social inequality and exploitation. While he leads a carefree life, learning to fly aeroplanes and enjoying leisure, he eventually discovers that the lower classes are still dominated and exploited. The revolution that overthrows the previous world order has not improved the lives of the masses, who now live and work in massive, windmill-powered cities, with all agricultural work automated. Graham's wealth and power thus highlight the novel's critique of capitalism, plutocracy, and the abuse of power.
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The White Council's control
The White Council is a group of trustees who managed Graham's wealth while he slept for 203 years. They invested his money to gain political and social dominance, buying up industries and political entities across the world. This resulted in a plutocracy that abolished the existing world order, including Parliament and the monarchy in Great Britain.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented and alarmed by the people around him. He is now the richest man in the world and the most powerful man in the world from a legal perspective. However, the White Council wants him dead and attempts to assassinate him. Rebels, led by Ostrog, help Graham escape and join their revolution against the White Council.
Graham's carefree life ends when he realises that the revolution has changed nothing for the lower class, who are still dominated and exploited. Ostrog defends the system, revealing that he only wanted power for himself. Graham's role as a figurehead for the rebels highlights the White Council's loss of control and the shift in power dynamics.
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Revolution against the White Council
In the 1899 dystopian novel *When the Sleeper Wakes*, H.G. Wells presents a world where the main character, Graham, falls asleep for 203 years, waking up in a transformed London in the year 2100. Graham is now the richest man in the world, having inherited a vast sum of money while he slept. The trustees of his wealth, known as the White Council, have used his money to establish a new world order, investing in industries and political entities to gain control over half the world.
The White Council, however, wants Graham dead and attempts to assassinate him. Rebels, led by the revolutionary Ostrog, rescue Graham and convince him to join their cause against the White Council. Graham, reluctant and unsure of who to trust, agrees to lead the revolution. The workers march against the White Council but are attacked by the state police, leading to chaos and Graham being separated from the group.
Graham meets an old man who reveals the truth about the Sleeper and the White Council's actions. The old man is skeptical of the Sleeper's existence, believing him to be a symbol used by the Council to control the people. Despite this, the revolutionaries, led by Ostrog, persist in their cause and want the Sleeper to be their figurehead leader. Graham agrees and leads a life of leisure, taking an interest in aeroplanes and learning to fly.
From the skies, Graham witnesses the drastic changes in his country. The countryside no longer exists, and all agricultural work is now automated and run by the cities. Everyone lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered cities. Graham's carefree life ends when he realises that the revolution has not brought about the desired changes for the lower classes. He confronts Ostrog, who admits that the lower classes are still dominated and exploited, defending the system he has put in place. Graham uncovers the harsh realities of life for the workers, including low pay, a lack of job security, rampant diseases, and the breakdown of family structures. Ostrog has used the revolution to seize power for himself, and the workers continue to rebel even after the fall of the White Council.
The story explores themes of socialism, the betrayal of revolution, and how an elite can manipulate and oppress the population while maintaining their power and influence.
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London's transformation
In H.G. Wells's 1899 novel, When the Sleeper Wakes, the protagonist, Graham, is a Victorian man who falls into a coma after taking a drug to help him sleep. He wakes up 203 years later in the year 2100 to a London that has been completely transformed.
The London that Graham knew has been replaced by a gleaming steel and glass metropolis, with virtually everything automated and mechanized. All agricultural work has been moved towards an automated model, and everyone now lives and works in one of four massive, windmill-powered metropolises. The countryside has been abandoned, and all agriculture is run like industry.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented and alarmed by the people around him, who seem to know who he is but refuse to answer his questions. Instead, they place him under house arrest. Graham eventually learns that he has become the richest man in the world. While he was asleep, he inherited a large sum of money, which was managed and invested by a group called the White Council. They used his wealth to buy up industries and political entities, establishing their own vision of political and social dominance and creating a plutocracy that abolished the existing world order, including Parliament and the monarchy in Great Britain.
Graham becomes entangled in a revolution against the White Council, led by the rebels Ostrog and Helen Wotton. Ostrog manipulates Graham into becoming a puppet ruler while he retains power. Graham leads a carefree life, pursuing his interest in aeroplanes and learning how to fly. From the air, he sees the extent of the changes to his country. However, his carefree life ends when Helen Wotton reveals to him that the revolution has changed nothing for the lower class, who are still dominated and exploited.
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![Dystopia [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81UZ2qEEFgL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The Sleeper's awakening
In the novel, Graham, a Victorian man and insomniac, takes a drug to help him sleep in the year 1897. He falls into a deep coma and wakes up in the year 2100, discovering that he has become the richest man in the world. During his sleep, trustees called the White Council managed his wealth, investing it to establish their political and social dominance. As a result, he legally owns most of the world, making him the most powerful man alive.
Upon awakening, Graham is disoriented and alarmed by the people around him, who are surprised by his regained consciousness. He is met with curiosity and demand from the public, who want to catch a glimpse of the legendary Sleeper. However, instead of providing him with answers, those around him place him under house arrest.
Graham learns of his newfound power and influence from a wizened old man, who also shares the story of the Sleeper. The old man reveals that the White Council used the Sleeper's wealth to abolish the existing world order and gain control. Graham escapes his captors with the help of rebels led by Ostrog, who want him to assume the role of leader in their revolution against the White Council. Unconvinced but eager for freedom, Graham joins them.
As Graham explores the new world, he discovers that all agriculture has moved towards an automated model, with everyone living and working in one of four massive, windmill-powered cities. He develops an interest in aeroplanes and learns to fly, witnessing firsthand the drastic changes that have transformed his country.
"The Sleeper's Awakening" offers a fascinating glimpse into a possible future, blending adventure, politics, and social commentary. It serves as a warning and an exploration of the potential consequences of unchecked power and technological advancement.
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Frequently asked questions
The main character, Graham, is a Victorian man who suffers from insomnia.
Graham falls asleep and wakes up 203 years later in a transformed London. He is now the richest man in the world, and the most powerful, as he legally owns most of the planet.
The White Council, who have been managing Graham's wealth while he slept, want him dead. Rebels, led by Ostrog, help Graham escape the Council and encourage him to lead a revolution against them.
'When the Sleeper Wakes' is a dystopian science fiction novel written by H.G. Wells and published in 1899. Wells wrote the novel simultaneously with another book and under considerable pressure from his journalistic obligations.
