The War of the Worlds · Chapter
Dead London explained
The narrator wanders through a desolate, silent London, haunted by the Martian's dying cry 'Ulla, ulla, ulla, ulla.' He discovers the Martians have been slain not by human weapons, but by earthly bacteria and germs to which they had no immu
What happens
The narrator wanders through a desolate, silent London, haunted by the Martian's dying cry 'Ulla, ulla, ulla, ulla.' He discovers the Martians have been slain not by human weapons, but by earthly bacteria and germs to which they had no immunity. The chapter ends with the narrator's realization that the threat is over and the city may be reborn.
Themes in this chapter
Evolution and Natural Selection
The narrator explains that humans have evolved resistance to earthly bacteria through natural selection, while Martians, lacking such exposure, are fatally vulnerable.
Human Vulnerability and Vanity
Despite human technological and military efforts, the Martians are ultimately undone by microscopic germs, highlighting the fragility of even the most advanced beings.
Resilience and Renewal
The narrator feels a wave of emotion at the prospect of London being 'once more alive and powerful,' emphasizing the theme of recovery after devastation.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Wanders alone through dead London, observes the Martians' death, and reflects on the city's silent desolation.
- The Martians
Found dead or dying, slain by earthly bacteria; their machines stand motionless and their cry ceases.
- The Curate
Mentioned indirectly as one of the 'two sodden creatures of despair' sharing the city with the narrator.
Key passages
“But there are no bacteria in Mars, and directly these invaders arrived, directly they drank and fed, our microscopic allies began to work their overthrow.”
Because Mars has no bacteria, as soon as the Martians consumed earthly food and water, the germs on Earth started to destroy them.
The narrator explains the ironic downfall of the Martians through earthly microbes.
“The silence came like a thunderclap.”
The sudden quiet was as shocking as a loud clap of thunder.
Describes the abrupt end of the Martian cry and the overwhelming stillness that follows.
“By the toll of a billion deaths man has bought his birthright of the Earth, and it is his against all comers;”
Through countless deaths over millennia, humanity has earned its place on Earth and can defend it against any invader.
Reflects on the evolutionary cost that gives humans their immunity and dominion.