Miya Pearson
H.G. Wells' novel 'When the Sleeper Wakes' is a dystopian tale that has been described as a full-blooded novel that ranks up with books that are being produced today. The novel, written in 1899, follows a 19th-century insomniac named Graham, who falls into a deep coma and sleeps for 200 years, waking up in the year 2100 to a transformed London. The ending of the novel is abrupt, with Graham discovering that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world, and becoming entangled in a revolution against the White Council, the group that has been managing his wealth. Despite the rushed ending, the novel is considered influential in the science fiction genre, with many ideas that still resonate today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dystopian, science fiction |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Publication date | 1899 |
| Publication format | Serial |
| Publication name | The Graphic (London), Harper's Weekly (New York) |
| Main character | Graham |
| Story elements | Action, warfare, colourful future stuff, betrayal, romance, politics |
| Plot | Graham, an insomniac, falls into a coma and sleeps for 200+ years, waking up in a transformed London where he is the richest man in the world |
| Ending | Graham is a puppet ruler, he learns to fly aeroplanes, he discovers the revolution has changed nothing for the lower class |
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What You'll Learn
The Sleeper's awakening
In H.G. Wells' "When the Sleeper Wakes", Graham, a 19th-century insomniac, falls into a deep sleep for 200 years. When he finally wakes up, he finds himself in a transformed London, in the year 2100, where he has become the richest man and the most powerful man in the world.
Upon waking, Graham is disoriented and alarmed by the people around him, who are also shocked by his awakening. He is placed under house arrest and learns that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world. Rebels led by Ostrog help him escape, and they encourage him to lead a revolution against the White Council, who have been exploiting the lower classes and dominating the political and economic world order. Graham reluctantly agrees to lead the revolution, but he is separated from the rebels during a march when the state police attack.
Graham meets an old man who tells him about the Sleeper and how the White Council invested his wealth to gain political influence and control industries worldwide. Ostrog becomes the true leader, with Graham as his puppet ruler. Graham's carefree life ends when he realises that the revolution has not changed anything for the lower classes, and Ostrog has only used him to gain power. Ostrog admits that the workers in other cities continue to rebel even after the fall of the White Council.
"When the Sleeper Wakes" is a dystopian science fiction novel, first published as a serial in 1899 and later expanded into a full-length novel in 1910. It is considered one of Wells' prophetic works, combining technological inventions with radical political ideas. The novel has influenced many later works of science fiction and is known for its unique portrayal of an alternate future.
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The White Council
In H.G. Wells' novel, 'When the Sleeper Wakes', the White Council are the trustees of Graham's wealth. Graham, the Sleeper, is a Victorian man and insomniac who falls into a deep coma and sleeps for over 200 years. During this time, the White Council uses his wealth to establish a new world order, investing in industries and political entities to gain influence and control. They are described as having "established their own vision of political and social dominance".
Upon Graham's awakening, the White Council wants him dead. They attempt to assassinate him, but he is helped and protected by rebels led by Ostrog, who want Graham to lead their revolution against the oppressive rule of the White Council.
The novel explores the theme of power dynamics and the potential consequences of a small group holding immense wealth and influence. The White Council's actions and ambitions ultimately shape the world in which Graham wakes up, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and the potential for abuse and exploitation.
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The revolution
As the story unfolds, Graham learns of the revolution and is approached by Ostrog and his rebels. They believe that Graham, as the Sleeper, has a symbolic significance that can rally the people against the White Council. Graham, unsure of whom to trust, reluctantly joins forces with Ostrog and the revolutionaries. He becomes a figurehead for the rebellion, while Ostrog remains the true leader, pulling the strings behind the scenes.
During a march against the White Council, the revolutionaries encounter resistance from the state police, leading to a battle. In the midst of the chaos, Graham meets an old man who reveals to him the true nature of the Sleeper's role in the revolution. The old man explains how the White Council had exploited the Sleeper's wealth to gain control, and how the revolution seeks to overthrow their oppressive regime.
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Graham's rule
In the novel, Graham, a Victorian insomniac, falls into a deep coma after taking drugs to cure his insomnia. He wakes up 200 years later in a transformed London, discovering that he has become the richest man in the world. During his sleep, trustees known as the White Council have accumulated vast wealth in his name and established a new world order, investing in industries and political entities worldwide. As a result, Graham legally owns most of the world and holds immense power.
However, the White Council wants Graham dead to maintain their control. Rebels led by Ostrog rescue him, and they convince him to become their figurehead leader in the revolution against the White Council. Ostrog manipulates Graham, using his power and influence to maintain his grip on the rebels while keeping Graham in a position of comfort and leisure. Graham becomes interested in aeroplanes and learns to fly, observing the drastic changes in the country during his sleep, including the disappearance of the countryside and the concentration of the population in four massive, windmill-powered cities.
In conclusion, Graham's Rule, as presented in *When the Sleeper Wakes*, is a cautionary tale about the dangers of concentrated power and the potential for manipulation and abuse, even in revolutionary contexts. It highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in governance and warns against the allure of charismatic leaders who may prioritize their interests over those of the people they claim to represent.
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London's transformation
London, the city that Graham once knew, has transformed into a gleaming steel and glass metropolis with a new world order. Everything is automated and mechanized, and the city is powered by huge windmills. The countryside and small towns no longer exist, and all agricultural work has been industrialized and run by the cities. People now live and work in four massive, windmill-powered metropolises.
The political landscape has drastically changed, with the White Council, a group of trustees, having abolished the existing world order, including Parliament and the monarchy in Great Britain. They have established a new world order, investing Graham's wealth to gain political and economic control over half the world. The White Council wants Graham dead and attempts to assassinate him, but he is saved by the rebels led by Ostrog, who want Graham to be their leader.
Graham, disoriented and confused, is placed under house arrest by the people around him. He learns that he is the legal owner and master of most of the world, a position he attained through compound interest on his wealth while he slept. The people demand to see the legendary Sleeper, and a mob gathers around the building. Graham reluctantly joins the rebels, unsure of who to trust. He soon finds himself in the midst of a revolution, with the workers rising up against the oppressive White Council.
During a march, the state police attack the revolutionaries, and in the chaos, Graham meets an old man who tells him about the Sleeper and the White Council's evil deeds. Graham discovers that the White Council has used his wealth to buy up industries and political entities worldwide, solidifying their power. Ostrog becomes the true leader, manipulating the revolution and Graham to seize power for himself. Graham's carefree life ends when he realizes that the revolution has changed nothing for the lower classes, who are still dominated and exploited.
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Frequently asked questions
The novel is about a man named Graham, who is an insomniac living in London in the year 1897. He takes drugs to cure his insomnia but ends up falling into a deep coma. He sleeps for 200 years, waking up in a completely transformed London in the year 2100, where he has become the richest man in the world.
When Graham wakes up, he is disoriented and alarmed by the people around him, who do not want him to wake up and are afraid. 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 and master of most of the world.
The White Council is a group of trustees who managed Graham's wealth while he was asleep. They used his money to establish a new world order and a political and social dominance. Ostrog is a revolutionary leader who helps Graham escape from the White Council and wants him to assume the role of leader in the rebellion against the Council.
The title refers to the protagonist Graham, who is known as "The Sleeper" after being in a trance or coma for 200 years. The phrase "when the Sleeper wakes" is used jestingly as a proverb for remote postponement, indicating that Graham's awakening is an unexpected and significant event in the story.
The ending of the novel is somewhat ambiguous. Graham becomes a puppet ruler, with Ostrog holding the real power. Graham leads a carefree life, interested in aeroplanes and learning to fly. However, he eventually discovers that the revolution has changed nothing for the lower class, who are still dominated and exploited. Ostrog is revealed to be a power-hungry leader who used Graham and the revolution for his own gain.
