The Apocalyptic Machine: An Appraisal of the Dependence of Humans on Machine in E. M. Forster’s Short Story “The Machine Stops”

Abstract

The evolution of the human mind across centuries shapes the vision and function of the world, which leads one to centralise humans more than other beings and elements. Posthumanism challenges this traditional notion, instead of placing the human as subject enacting force, it provides equal place to humans, non-humans and the environment. It explores the interconnectedness of humans, machines, objects and the natural world. In this digital era, in which, one leads a secondary life in the world by entrusting one’s own in the hands of a machine. Being unaware of the technological advancement which poses a great threat to the existence of humans and other entities, people lead their lives recklessly. This paper aims to analyse E.M. Forster’s “The Machine Stops,” a dystopian science short story so as to bring out the impact of the techno driven world on humanity and the consequences of neglecting the natural world by humankind. E. M. Forster is a British novelist, essayist and literary critic. He has voiced for various social causes throughout his life in his writing. He has received many honours and his writing reflects a deep understanding of the human condition. “The Machine Stops” is set in future where humans lose the ability to live on the surface of the earth because of prioritising living under the dependence on the giant machine. The character, Vashti, gets a call from her son Kuno and he asks her to visit him in person. Vashti prioritises and harmonises life with machines in the isolation room and it satisfies all her needs. On the contrary, Kuno rebels against the idea of living in dependence on a machine. The machine world is guided by two rules. First, the individuals are no longer allowed to use the respirators to visit the Earth. Second, there is a kind of religion called Mechanism in which people must worship the Machine. They enjoy a comfortable life with the machines. After sometime, the problem begins when the machine has started to collapse and it brings threat to humans who have neglected the natural world. People start to lose their breath and they are unable to survive without the machine. E. M. Forster makes the reader to realise the impact of dependence on machines by people and the importance of their relationship to the natural world.