The Destruction Of Humanity In H. G. Wells The Star

The Star by H. G. Wells is a story about the near destruction of the human race, but more than that, it is a story about the selfishness of the human race. During this story, people have the chance to see many world changing events that could even effect the very construction of our solar system, but they don’t care. They are too busy living their lives and dealing with daily problems that something like the destruction of a planet is overshadowed by what is for dinner tonight.
A great example of this apathetic attitude, is shown soon after the star’s first appearance. The star has demonstrated its destructive power by completely destroying the planet of Neptune, and now seems to be getting closer to earth. Many scientists and astronomers are exited at the prospect of getting a better look at this star, but most common people express complete indifference. As one homeless man demonstrated, “it has need to be nearer, for that night’s as cold as charity. Don’t seem much warmth from it if it is nearer, all the same” (43) This man is a witness to something that

They continued on their day to day lives not even bothering to acknowledge the apocalypse close at hand. As the narrator described, “as a matter of fact, use and wont still ruled the world, and save for the talk of idle moments and the splendor of the night, nine human beings out of ten were still busy at their common occupations. In all the cities the shops, save one here and there, opened and closed at their proper hours, the doctor and the undertaker plied their trades, the workers gathered in the factories, soldiers drilled, scholars studied, lovers sought one another, thieves lurked and fled, politicians planned their schemes.” (45) Until the star finally had a direct impact on the people they continued to ignore it in favor of immediate concerns like