The Machine Stops
The Machine StopsThe Machine Stops
The remarkable short novella titled “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster is an early example of apocalyptic fiction that shows humanity trapped by technology. It was written in the early 20th century. “The Machine Stops” is set in the distant future, when mankind has come to depend on a worldwide Machine for food, housing, communications and medical care. In return, humanity has abandoned the earth’s surface for a life of isolation and immobility. Humanity lives in a honeycomb of rooms inside a vast subterranean machine that procures to every human need. When the inhabitants want food, the machine provides food. When they want to sleep, the machine provides a bed. When they want entertainment, the machine plays music. All needs are met through the machine. However, in his novella, E.M. Forster warns humankind that the consequences of machine worship could be the isolation of humankind, the elimination of love and the loss of human uniqueness.
Amazingly, almost a hundred years ago, Forster had an uncanny ability to predict exactly how technology would develop and how it would change not only our way of looking at it but more importantly how it changes our lives. In his novella “The Machine Stops”, the Machine is the ultimate technological advancement that provided all needs for humankind. Aside from the necessities such as food and clothing, the Machine provided humankind with a different way to connect with each other, a way that leads to complete isolation. People rarely leave their rooms or meet face-to-face; instead they exchange through a global web that is part of the Machine. Each cell contains a glowing blue optic plate and telephone apparatus, which carry images and sounds among individuals and groups. This boost of technology increases the accessibility to others even from far away, but diminishes the purpose of personal interactions. Forster also realizes that the quality of personal connection depends on the quantity-often inversely. The more people one knows the easier it is to replace them. In other words, too many connections devalue each one of them and they become less of a concern. Vashti, writes Forster, “knew several thousand people; in certain directions human communication had advanced enormously.”(Pg115) In his novella, Forster thinks of technology that is being developed more and more as a means to physically removes humankind from one another. Eventually humankind incorporates this detachment from each other into their social rules and norms. Not only does the way of communication changes, but also the living standards. “Imagine, if you can, a small room, hexagonal in shape, like the cell of a bee. It is lighted neither by window nor by lamp.”(Pg115) These millions and millions of small cells are identical and are where humankind dwells. Through these images that Forster is presenting to the readers, these cells can be closely related to those in a jail. While the Machine blindfolds Vashti and the rest of society, Kuno on the other hand is moving towards the opposite direction. He understands how the Machine turns causes segregation to society. He does not want such a thing. He doesn’t believe in the Machine, but rather the opposite. He craves the personal interactions, the direct exchange of ideas and a true relationship with his mother Vashti. The Machine “has robbed us of the sense of space and of the sense of touch, it has blurred every human relation and it has paralyzed our bodies and our wills”(Pg141) says Kuno. He wants to free himself from society and the Machine. Humankind is missing too much due to the isolation placed on them by the Machine.
It’s true that even in Forster’s vision, there is evidence that emotion and a desire for relationships escapes the grip of the Machine. Human passions still existed among few individuals such as Kuno who wants to experience direct contact. And it is clear that Vashti and Kuno share a mother-son link, although Kuno has been raised in a public nursery. Aside from computers and other technology, love, however, has changed radically in Forster’s sight. Intimate relationships not longer exist in the world of the Machine. The idea of dating and other intimate activities is completely eliminated in the novella. Since love is developed through these and other activities, therefore, love no longer exist. People no longer need love because it is not necessary. The society described in the novella only reproduction and the exchange of ideas is important and meaningful. People no longer need to touch others because they do not receive ideas from doing so. People no longer talk intimately to each other because they do not even know how due to the isolation. Sitting passively and isolated, the physical appearance of Vashti and the rest of society are slowly degenerating into abominable creatures. Once again, it is the Machine that is causing such a disgusting outcome. The Machine destroys all beings with attractive features such as those with excess amounts of muscle. Because of this outrageous act of inhumanity, society as a whole is left with nothing but hideous freaks. Forster describes Vashti as a “swaddled lump of flesh . . . five feet high, with a face as white as a fungus.”(Pg115) It has gotten to a point where humankind describes each other as creatures. This is evidence when Vashti was in the subway, she finds “one other passenger was in the lift, the first fellow creature she had seen face to face for months.”(Pg124) Since physical attractiveness plays a key role in love relationships, without it, the chance of there being any is completely diminished. Another factor of love is the intellectual involvement of the two parties. In the world of the Machine, intimate conversations no longer exist. There is absolutely no need to have them because no ideas can be acquired from doing so. Love cannot be developed without the correct means of communication. Unfortunately, communicating through the machine has limited the ability of humankind to form the emotions of love. Aside from communications, the other element of love, sex is changing dramatically as well. Sex is love is very closely related in today’s world, but not so in “The Machine Stops”. The only purpose of sexual intercourse is strictly for reproduction and not a display of affection and love. Since the Machine controls reproduction, as in the case of Kuno when he “asked to be a father and his request had been refused by the Committee,” (Pg135) therefore sexual intercourse is now also controlled. In the world where people do not kiss, where sex happens on assignment, Kuno rails that the Machine “has blurred every human relation and narrowed down love to a carnal act.”(Pg140) Love is the most fulfilling feeling a human being can possess while sex is one of the most pleasurable acts in a human being’s life. Nevertheless, the Machine has completely eliminated love and limited sex to a minimal due to its unnecessariness. Because of the society’s dependence on the machine and the unconditional believe in the Book, the human civilization no longer process the right to freedom and happiness.
Another problem Forster sees with the eruption of new technology as it flows out the pores of humans, is the loss of individual human uniqueness. Throughout the entire novella, Forster gives the readers a consistent image of human impartiality. From the material point of view, everything humans use in their day to day lives is the same. This includes the cells and “beds of the same dimension all over the world”(Pg120) and that the “earth was exactly alike all over.”(Pg124.) All activities done are repetitive everyday; people eat the same food, listen to the same music, sleep on the same beds, and the list goes on. From this material technological transformation, the spiritual side of humankind also revolutionized. As a result, people live most of their lives alone in their individual cells - they no longer use technology to go out and seek what they desire; with the machine, what they desire is brought to them. As time goes by, humankind gets more and more used to their artificial lifestyles provided by the machine, to the point that they do not understand another way to life other then what they have. They spend their lives exchanging second hand ideas going around and around the community. With no innovation and no intellectual advancements, the results can only lead to one end, desolation. Uniqueness is what makes humans, human. The measures of values and beliefs are what is so special about humankind. Humans are at the very top of the animal kingdom because we possess different values and beliefs. Society can only progress with change, which was lacking in “The Machine Stops”. There are however, some glimpses of hope when Kuno is introduced. He believes in human uniqueness, he wanted to be different and is even willing to risk his life to achieve his goal. When Kuno decides to explore the other world, he took the first steps of finding his true self. Unlike the Machine worshiping Vashti, who believes that the machine measures humans, Kuno believes that ” Man is the measure. Man’s feet are the measure for distance, his hands are the measure for ownership, his body is the measure for all that is lovable and desirable and strong.”(Pg134) Kuno fights many obstacles to reach freedom, which lies above ground. His decision to jump for the handle to reach the surface of the earth was the most dramatic display of courage and determination, which is missing in the society. “Jump. It is worth it. There may be a handle in the centre, and you may catch hold of it and so come to us your own way. And if there is no handle, so that you may fall and are dashed to pieces - it is still worth it: you will still come to us you own way.”(Pg137) Vashti’s reaction so Kuno’s action clearly exhibits the lack and the hate of uniqueness in the society:
Tears gathered in his mother’s eyes. She knew that he was fated. If he did not die to-day he would die tomorrow. There was not room for such a person in the world. And with her pity disgust mingled. She was ashamed at having borne such a son, she who had always been so respectable and so full of ideas. (Pg137)
From this passage, Vashti states the penalty for Kuno’s act of discovering freedom. The penalty for such an act of freedom is death, death for something a human should have the right to do. In conclusion, the Machine prohibits individuality and freedom, and creates a world of complete reliance for humankind. Due to this complete dependence, there is no need not fitting in with society, no need to think of different ideas and definitely no need to be unique.