A Scrape of Untainted Sky: Environmental Warning and A Piece of Hope for Humanity-Reading E. M Forster’s The Machine Stops

Abstract

This essay reads E.M. Forster's The Machine Stops through the lens of environmental warning and sees that the story is a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unchecked use of natural, technological progress and societal reliance on machines. The story offers several elements that one can interpret through an environmental lens. The depiction of a world where humanity lives underground, cut off from the natural environment, can be seen as a cautionary tale about the consequences of environmental degradation. The story suggests that the overreliance on technology and the disregard for nature ultimately lead to the collapse of civilization. The deterioration of the Machine and its inability to sustain human life reflects the consequences of environmental neglect and the finite nature of resources. As the Machine fails, it can be interpreted as a metaphor for the Earth's ecosystems breaking down under the pressure of exploitation and pollution. By exploring the story's portrayal of human interactions with technology and nature, scholars and readers can uncover valuable insights into the importance of environmental stewardship and the consequences of ecological neglect. This essay suggests the stout humanity in which remnants of the people, after the destruction of the underground world, start a world anew looking after the environment.