The Time Machine
by H. G. Wells
A Victorian scientist invents a time machine and journeys far into the future, to the year 802,701 A.D. There, he discovers two divergent species of humanity, the beautiful but docile Eloi and the grotesque subterranean Morlocks, unraveling a shocking truth about mankind's destiny and survival. His return is harrowing, marked by profound loss and a chilling glimpse of Earth's ultimate demise.
Time Traveller
A brilliant, inventive, and recondite scientist and philosopher of the late 19th century. He has pale grey eyes that shine and twinkle, and a usually pale face. He is physically strong and resilient, with a deep intellectual curiosity and an adventurous spirit, though also prone to intense emotions like fear and despair. After his journey, he returns haggard, with disordered hair, ghastly pale skin, and a cut on his chin, limping, and showing an enormous appetite.
The Narrator
An unnamed, observant individual, one of the Time Traveller's most constant guests and a fellow intellectual. He recounts the frame story, presenting the Time Traveller's tale to the reader. He is thoughtful and more open to the Time Traveller's fantastic claims than many of the other guests, retaining a degree of belief or at least an open mind.
Weena
A small, frail, child-like female Eloi, perhaps four feet high, with a flushed face and mild, large eyes. She wears a purple tunic. Physically weak but possesses an intense capacity for affection and gratitude.
Medical Man
A pragmatic and analytical member of the Time Traveller's circle. Initially skeptical but possesses a scientific curiosity that prevents outright dismissal. He notices details and, at times, exhibits an independent line of thought.
Psychologist
An academic and intellectual peer of the Time Traveller, quick to grasp concepts and provide psychological explanations, but also prone to intellectual pride. He's pragmatic and tries to appear rational, even in the face of the incredible.
Filby
An argumentative person with red hair. He is a steadfast realist and skeptic, more confrontational in his disbelief than others. He prefers concrete reality over abstract theory and quickly becomes 'brain-weary' by complex discussions.
Provincial Mayor
A respectable but somewhat slow-witted man. He struggles to follow complex scientific discussions and prefers to maintain an air of impartiality.
Very Young Man
An enthusiastic but superficial participant in the discussions. He quickly grasps exciting, though sometimes materialistic, implications of time travel but struggles with the underlying scientific complexity.
Editor
The editor of a well-known daily paper, a man whose thinking is often in 'headlines'. He is jovial, curious, but deeply cynical and quick to resort to ridicule when faced with incredible claims. He is pragmatic about deadlines and the value of a story.
Journalist
A 'new kind of journalist'—very joyous, irreverent, and skeptical, echoing the Editor's disbelief. He contributes to the ridicule of the Time Traveller's story.
Silent Man
A quiet, shy man with a beard, who rarely speaks throughout the entire evening. He seems easily startled and uncomfortable, often expressing himself through gestures rather than words.
Eloi
Descendants of humanity inhabiting the surface world of 802,701 AD. They are slight creatures, perhaps four feet tall, with a uniformly curly hair (without facial hair), small mouths, thin red lips, and large, mild eyes. Their bodies are 'girlishly rotund' and fragile. They wear soft, brightly colored robes, live in grand, decaying palaces, and sustain themselves solely on fruit. Intellectually child-like, lacking curiosity, strength, and any sense of danger or communal defense.
Morlocks
Descendants of humanity living deep underground in 802,701 AD. They are ape-like creatures, 'dull white', 'bleached', with large, sensitive greyish-red, lidless eyes that reflect light. Their bodies are chinless, and they have flaxen hair on their heads and backs. They are agile climbers, communal, and possess primitive cunning, a sense of strategy, and tool-making skills. They are carnivorous and prey upon the Eloi.
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