# III explained — In the Days of the Comet

> Chapter companion for In the Days of the Comet by H. G. Wells.

## What happens

Willie Leadford and Parload engage in a lengthy, passionate conversation about social injustice, capitalism, and the possibility of a comet destroying the world. They walk through the industrial landscape, observing the stark contrast between the squalid workers' quarters and the distant mansions of the wealthy. Leadford expresses his bitterness toward his employer Rawdon and his unrequited love for Nettie Stuart, fantasizing about revolutionary violence. The chapter reflects on the feverish, muddled thinking of the pre-Change world.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Inequality

The chapter vividly contrasts the squalid lives of industrial workers with the distant, privileged existence of landlords and capitalists, seen from the ridge overlooking the valley.

### War and Conflict

Leadford's fantasies of barricades, significant violence, and revenge against the 'hydra of Capitalism' reflect a desire for class conflict.

### The Natural World and Cosmic Perspective

Parload's rediscovery of the stars and Leadford's wish for a comet to destroy the world introduce a cosmic perspective on human misery.

## Character check-ins

### Willie Leadford

Narrator and protagonist; bitter about his low wages and unrequited love for Nettie; fantasizes about the comet destroying the world and about revolutionary violence.

### Parload

Leadford's friend and fellow thinker; more philosophical and cautious; discusses the comet and the miseries of life.

### Nettie Stuart

Object of Leadford's affection; mentioned as living in Checkshill, a source of his emotional turmoil.

### Rawdon

Leadford's employer; refused to raise his wages above twenty shillings a week; symbol of capitalist oppression.

## Key lines

> I wish at times, that comet of yours or some such thing would indeed strike this world—and wipe us all away, strikes, wars, tumults, loves, jealousies, and all the wretchedness of life!

Leadford expresses a desire for the comet to destroy the world and end all human suffering.

_Highlights Leadford's despair and the cosmic theme._

> It could only add to the miseries of life. Collision with a comet. It would only throw things back. It would only make what was left of life more savage than it is at present.

Parload argues that a comet collision would worsen rather than end human misery.

_Contrasts Leadford's apocalyptic wish with a more pragmatic view._

> It was a clear case of robbery, we held, visibly so; there in those great houses lurked the landlord and the capitalist, with his scoundrel the lawyer, with his cheat the priest, and we others were all the victims of their deliberate villainies.

Leadford and Parload believe that the wealthy deliberately exploit the poor through a system of robbery.

_Illustrates the simplistic, angry socialist worldview of the young men._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters