Review: ‘The Machine Stops’ by E.M. Forster reminds us to cherish authentic human connection

The novel “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster, written in 1909, remains eerily relevant today. Technology is taking over our lives but is not a replacement for authentic human connection.

“The Machine Stops” is a dark, dystopian short story that serves as a cautionary tale, exploring a world where everyone on Earth lives underground in pods connected only by machines. It presents a reality where people are slowly losing their humanity due to a lack of connection with other people. This insightful story, more relevant now than ever, has influenced many famous novels such as “1984” by George Orwell, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley and “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury.

Technology is taking over our lives in various ways, from the constant use of smartphones to the increasing reliance on AI. However, it is essential to remember that technology does not replace authentic human connection; the narrative underscores the importance of valuing human emotion and connection. The Machine in the book represents technology such as texting services, the internet, AI and more; it provides us with all our needs and controls every aspect of human life. Forster’s bleak tale about our over-reliance on technology and the fear that our current society is making its way to this reality is a stark warning we must heed. 

This novel delves into the emotional turmoil of a mother and lecturer, Vanshi and her son, Kuno. Vanshi resides in the Southern Hemisphere while Kuno is in the North and they communicate through a round plate – which acts like Zoom or FaceTime. Their communication is mediated by The Machine, a central system that controls all aspects of their lives. They find themselves at odds because Kuno yearns for a physical meeting and a genuine human connection, but Vanshi, driven by fear and the Machine’s control, deems it perilous.

Kuno’s longing to witness the stars in the sky standing on the ground, not through an aircraft or a simulation, echoes his yearning for a real human experience. Their relationship with The Machine is a pivotal aspect of the novel, as a stark warning of the potential perils of our increasing reliance on technology. 

Forster’s foresight is chillingly accurate, as he eerily predicts life during the pandemic and our gradual subordination to the World Wide Web, living our lives through a computer screen. Increased usage of video chatting services.

Every room has a booklet that serves as a manual about the Machine and all its functions. This manual instantaneously answers every question, a feature that has become all too familiar. The Machine is an Alexa-esque program that provides you with all your needs like music, food, a bed, clothes, room temperature and communication, all at the touch of a button.

In part 1 of the book, Vanshi sums it up by saying, “The room, though it contained nothing, was in touch with all that she cared for in the world” (Forster 4). All without the hassle of leaving one’s house; this scenario has manifested itself into many of our lives. 

Eventually, Vanshi decides to visit her son via airship, which people rarely use. Throughout Vanshi’s journey, readers will sense that she has become subordinate to technology and feels anxious about leaving her bubble. She even takes medication to numb herself from the stress that comes from direct contact. This decision and its consequences are a powerful illustration of the novel’s message about the potential dangers of our over-reliance on technology what what could happen if we were forced to restrain from using technology one day

Kuno needs to tell Vanshi something he couldn’t say over the Machine; he was being threatened with homelessness because he showed that he wanted to pursue independence by escaping the chokehold of the Machine. In their world, this means death because nobody can survive without the Machine. Although this might sound like extreme circumstances in our current society, some people consider it “weird” and “old-fashioned” when some are out of touch with the internet, unlike the Vanshis of the world (the rest of us). Kuno’s newfound knowledge that there are people who live out of the Machine’s control came from his experience reconnecting with nature when he climbed to the surface of the Earth to explore the forgotten land dotted with hills and tall trees. 

Nevertheless, the book does include many differences from our modern world. For example, religion is prevalent in society now, in this book, people scorn the conventionality of religion and worship the machine instead. In our world, people have to work jobs to serve their ‘machine.’ In Forster’s world, everyone has all their necessities provided to them. Still, the critical similarity lies in our satisfaction with instant gratification and our willingness to distance ourselves from the real world in favor of the ease that comes with technology.

This theme of instant gratification and the potential consequences of our increasing reliance on technology is particularly relevant in today’s context, where we are constantly bombarded with information and services at the touch of a button. It’s the fear that we are going to miss out on something important if we’re not constantly checking the apps on our smartphones, leading us to be glued to our devices. Just in case we miss out on the latest tweet from our favorite celebrity, an email from a professor or a flash sale at Ikea! This is how “Machines” or social media sites control our lives, by keeping us hooked onto their platforms. We crave the instant gratification that likes and comments on Instagram or TikTok can provide us with. 

Forster’s narrative reminds us of the value of real human connection as technology blurs these relations. The author’s statement “The clumsy business of public gatherings had long since abandoned” portrays socializing and meeting people in public as a clumsy business, suggesting that interacting through the Machine provides a sheltered existence. With its mere 70 pages, this book imparts a crucial lesson that is more relevant now than when it was released over a hundred years ago. Rapidly advancing technology can never replace the depths of human connection and psyche. This novel urges us to reconsider our subordination to technology and rediscover the essence of human connection. This message is vital for the current generation of young people growing up in a world increasingly dominated by technology.