Technology exists as a creation of people, produced through the various ideas to help make the lives of people easier and more productive. However, technology has become too deeply integrated in people’s lives that they start being overly dependent on it, even to the point of stating that they are not able to live without it. Such an idea, significantly evident in today’s society is the thematic background of E.M Forster’s The Machine Stops, serving as a prescient warning of its implications. The isolation and shunning of human nature and a worship of technology will eventually lead to destruction rather than progressive evolution.
An overdependence on technology and the subsequent ideology that is shaped from it leads to a loss of self and critical thinking. The short story highlights this by showing that the people living in their rooms, despite its limited conditions are contented with this. Everything that they need, though minimal, are monitored and administered by the Machine. Despite the artificial nature and imitation of objects, the people do not question the decisions of the Machine and as a result, do not think for themselves. In order for this to happen, the people had to be regulated and brainwashed into accepting their condition. For example, people lose their sense of space because they no longer had to leave their rooms to get what they want. Rather than having to go to where they can obtain what they want, they simple have the object delivered to them instead. Vashti, the main character of the story, considers this, and the various technicalities of their civilization as progressive, and criticizes the way of living of past generations. This acceptance has led to a blurring of a human’s morals wherein man is supposed to work hard for what he wants instead of simply having everything given to him. The discouragement of effort in such a civilization has led to people who are unable to function on their own, and without the guidance of any external interference.
The discouragement of effort has made the people weaker in physical constitution, while focusing instead on the proliferation of ideas and thinking. It is ironic to note though that the thinkers and the more advanced ones are still bound by the confines of the Machine rather than think freely for themselves. Vashti, for example, berates her son and tells him to not go against the Machine. This line of thinking is backwards in that despite all the thinking that they do and share with other people, there is no real critical thinking that is happening. With critical thinking, and thinking as a whole, comes a sense of wonder and curiosity. However, most people are satisfied and questions as to why they need to go out, see, and experience that which they are thinking about. With the exception of some thinkers mentioned who venture onto the surface for their research, most lecturers like Vashti question it. Ironically, Vashti states that she finds no idea upon seeing Greece, despite the country being the center of various ideas and thinkers at one point in civilization. The only one who was able to exhibit independent and critical thinking was Kuno, who found a way outside onto the surface without having to consult the Book. Another ironic thing to note is that while Vashti is considered one of the more advanced thinkers, she is not able to think or even consider that the Book might be wrong. Preferring isolation over human interaction has become widely accepted and regarded despite its implications.
The isolation of the self and loss of human interaction leads to a loss of corresponding social skills that help shape the self and expression. Despite the interconnectivity made possible by a more advanced technology, this is only virtual in nature and promotes self-isolation rather than social interactions. Social skills are important in the shaping of the self as it helps one find that which defines who that person really is as an individual. Social interactions are a way of promoting self-expression and the knowledge of social cues when it comes to talking with another individual. However, these social skills are challenged when people start to prefer long-distance communication instead of face-to-face communications. For example, Vashti knows and can communicate and see anyone she wants without having to leave her room. However, there is a big difference between virtual communication and face-to-face communication. The difference is the expressions and cues and the ability to read these hints while furthering the conversation. As a result of the loss of space and social skills, Vashti is unable to communicate with the airship attendant, even going as far as saying that she has become uncommon in her manners.
The fear and anxiety of dealing with other people face-to-face is a result of an overdependence on virtual communications. Despite claiming to know a lot of people, it is quite different to know someone personally. Consequently, virtual communication promotes the idea of interconnectivity. Even though it is virtual in nature, people are more inclined to the idea that they are never alone in their life. Being alone leads to anxiety which is why people take to social networking to create a false sense of connectivity where they can communicate with someone at any time of the day (Turkle, n.p). Evidently, this is why it is not uncommon to see people who are comfortable talking with each other virtually, but is unable to converse and talk about anything in person. Virtual communication has led to progress and further the isolation of people not only from their selves but also from other people. This contact phobia has become so extreme that people no longer deem touching other people as necessary. Vashti takes offence, for example, from the attendant for having touched her instead of letting her fall. Although it is not highlighted and only hinted at in the story, physical human interaction has been stripped down to the carnal: reproduction. It is important to note that Vashti never mentions Kuno’s father. The guidance of the Machine has led to the removal of concepts such as love, which is deemed irrational and unconventional to people.
Despite irrational beliefs like love and religion being abolished, humans are still inherently inclined and drawn to them. Religion, despite its irrationality exists in the people’s worshipping of the Machine even though they do not claim and say this outright. The various actions exhibited by Vashti and other people only highlights their faith to the Machine. The Book symbolizes their dedication to the Machine, wherein they consult and revere the Book as having all the answers to that which they are unaware of. They are unable to live without the guidance of the Machine, which is why; they bring the Book when they go out to serve as a proxy. The irrational reverence and faithfulness to an entity only serves to contradict their triumph over religion and irrationality.
Technology will only serve to isolate people not only from their selves, but also to other people and their potential to grow more as a human being. Kuno, being the only one who has showed independence and critical thinking is considered a nuisance and is forcibly dragged down back to underneath the surface. Kuno has regained his sense of space, and with it the sense of wonder and curiosity that exploring entails. He becomes unhappy and realizes how limiting their present condition is, with everything being given to them by the Machine. A return to self and human nature is something that can only be accomplished by isolating one’s self from the very technology that isolates someone. However, it is important to note that technology itself should be shunned completely, but rather the overdependence on it. Despite being threatened with Homelessness, equaling a death sentence to the people, it is ironic that the people are the ones who seem to be without a home the most. Living in confined spaces, despite having everything you may want and more, is simply living in a cell devoid of freedom. A home is something that one can consider his own, despite its size, as long as they are able to interact with it however they want to. This means then that a home, which are all similar in nature anywhere else can no longer be considered a real home.
The Machine may have been designed to stop at one point in time, in order to give rise to a stronger civilization. The phrase “The Machine stops” can suggest this design wherein technology slowly deteriorates after some time. It can also mean that its end will happen once the people acknowledge the Machine as a being akin to a God. Its deterioration then is a sign that people have reached the climax of their overdependence, which is why they need to be cleansed so that future civilization will learn from this mistake. If viewed in this regard, then the whole setting can be seen as a lesson wherein people are challenged to regain their sense of being human through Homelessness. Although a lot of people have died and consider Homelessness as a death sentence, Kuno has stated that there are indeed people who are living in the surface. This suggests a lot of things: a.) that not all people were subjected to the Machine’s influence; or that b.) these people are the ones who became Homeless afterwards. If Homelessness is the true goal, then this explains why Kuno, who prematurely regained his self was not brought back to under the surface. The ending then can be seen as in a good light despite its implication of a mass genocide in order to serve as a lesson. A new civilization will rise upon the fall of the cult of the Machine which is more resilient and knowledgeable of its consequences.
EM. Forster’s The Machine Stops has regrettably predicted the very predicament society is facing know with the ongoing advancement of technology. It might be inferred that most of technology now may have been based from science fiction. Forster’s short story was able to predict the isolation resulting from technology. The internet and social media has given rise to people who are exactly similar to the ones portrayed in The Machine Stops. In an article dating back 16 years ago, USA Today (1) stated that: “the internet could be the ultimate isolating technology that further reduces our participation in communities even more than television did before it”. Technology has always been an isolating mechanic because people are exchanging their effort and abilities for a more relaxed one. Nowadays there are people who no longer leave their homes because of the internet. Through the internet they can talk with other people, watch various shows, and even have things delivered to them by buying online. Significantly, the exchange of ideas can be seen through social networking sites where people can share content to which other people may applaud and criticize. This trend of isolation may progress if people fail to acknowledge and become aware of their isolation.
The dystopia envisioned by Forster might become reality if the people do not realize that they are becoming overly dependent on technology. Similarly, more and more people are applauding the rising advance of technology and have lauded it as progressive evolution. However, what people do not realize is that this path will only lead to destruction if the people do not look for solutions to their isolation. What is important is not a complete shunning of technology, but rather a compromise. Humans must never forget their sense of being, as that is what liberates and differentiates them from the technology that they have brought to existence. Isolation caused by technology is already happening, and people are already revering technology. Otherwise, the same dystopian vision made by Forster may really become a reality for humans.
Works Cited
“Are Americans Becoming Internet Slaves?” USA Today World of Science 128.2661 (2000): 1-3. Print.
Turkle, Sherry. “Connected, but alone?” Online video clip. TED. TED, February 2012. Web. 21 May 2016.
