……One interesting short-story… One interesting short-story… ‘’the door in the wall’’ ‘’the door in the wall’’

Herbert George "H.G." Wells Herbert George "H.G." Wells Herbert George (H.G.) Wells is known as one of the founding fathers of Herbert George (H.G.) Wells is known as one of the founding fathers of

science fiction--a label he always resisted (The Father of Science science fiction--a label he always resisted (The Father of Science Fiction).Fiction).

Instead, he called his works "scientific romances," stressing their Instead, he called his works "scientific romances," stressing their concrete humanity and de-emphasizing the abstract ideas at play. concrete humanity and de-emphasizing the abstract ideas at play.

Wells is regarded as one of the most prominent champions of the early Wells is regarded as one of the most prominent champions of the early twentieth-century spirit of British liberal optimism—the belief that twentieth-century spirit of British liberal optimism—the belief that scientific advances have made life almost perfect and that there is scientific advances have made life almost perfect and that there is

nothing left to discovernothing left to discover.. H.G Wells’art was found steampunk.H.G Wells’art was found steampunk. Steampunk Steampunk is a genre which came into is a genre which came into

prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s and incorporates elements of prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s and incorporates elements of science fiction,fantasy, alternate history, horror, and speculative fiction. Works science fiction,fantasy, alternate history, horror, and speculative fiction. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as Victorians might have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective on Victorians might have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art.fashion, culture, architectural style, and art.

Wells's earliest specialized training was in biology, and his thinking on ethical Wells's earliest specialized training was in biology, and his thinking on ethical matters took place in a specifically and fundamentally Darwinian context.matters took place in a specifically and fundamentally Darwinian context.

one of the world's bestone of the world's best short-story writershort-story writer

His later works became increasingly His later works became increasingly political and didactic, and he sometimes political and didactic, and he sometimes indicated on official documents that his indicated on official documents that his profession was that of "Journalist." profession was that of "Journalist." Many of his novels, particularly those of Many of his novels, particularly those of his middle period (1900–1920),had his middle period (1900–1920),had nothing to do with science fiction.nothing to do with science fiction.

He spent his final years venting his He spent his final years venting his frustrationfrustration at various targets which at various targets which included a neighbour who erected a included a neighbour who erected a large sign to a servicemen's clublarge sign to a servicemen's club.. It was  It was also at that time that he began to be also at that time that he began to be particularly outspoken in his criticism of particularly outspoken in his criticism of the Catholic Church. Wells's literary the Catholic Church. Wells's literary reputation declined as he spent his later reputation declined as he spent his later years promoting causes that were years promoting causes that were rejected by most of his contemporaries.rejected by most of his contemporaries.

The door in the wallThe door in the wall "The Door in the Wall" was first published in 1911 as part of a collection titled "The Door in the Wall" was first published in 1911 as part of a collection titled The The

Door in the Wall, and Other StoriesDoor in the Wall, and Other Stories. The conflict between science and imagination is . The conflict between science and imagination is the major theme of the story, which was enormously popular when it first appeared.the major theme of the story, which was enormously popular when it first appeared.

"The Door in the Wall" is written in a time when the British are concerned with "The Door in the Wall" is written in a time when the British are concerned with domestic matters. King Edward VII begins his reign following the death of Queen domestic matters. King Edward VII begins his reign following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. In Parliament, the Conservatives are divided on several issues and the Victoria in 1901. In Parliament, the Conservatives are divided on several issues and the general election of 1906 puts the Liberals in power by a significant majority. As the general election of 1906 puts the Liberals in power by a significant majority. As the ruling party, the Liberals create Britain's early welfare program. The Labour Party is ruling party, the Liberals create Britain's early welfare program. The Labour Party is formed during this time as well, with 29 original members.formed during this time as well, with 29 original members.  

"The Door in the Wall" examines an issue to which Wells returned repeatedly in his "The Door in the Wall" examines an issue to which Wells returned repeatedly in his writing: the contrast between aesthetics and science and the difficulty of choosing writing: the contrast between aesthetics and science and the difficulty of choosing between them. between them.

The protagonist, Lionel Wallace, possesses a vivid imagination but goes into politics, The protagonist, Lionel Wallace, possesses a vivid imagination but goes into politics, where he is considered extremely rational. where he is considered extremely rational.

Wells himself was both a trained scientist and a writer of fiction, and this theme recurs Wells himself was both a trained scientist and a writer of fiction, and this theme recurs in several guises in Wells's work. in several guises in Wells's work.

Continue..Continue.. The story suggests both the magic and the danger of a nostalgia for a buried time. It The story suggests both the magic and the danger of a nostalgia for a buried time. It

is a story about politician Wallace who, while growing up in a joyless home, is a story about politician Wallace who, while growing up in a joyless home, discovers a door in a wall leading to an enchanted garden. discovers a door in a wall leading to an enchanted garden.

Wells's recurrent theme of science versus art is part of a wider contrast between the Wells's recurrent theme of science versus art is part of a wider contrast between the rational and the imaginative elements of experience. rational and the imaginative elements of experience.

Wells has often been seen as being caught on an intellectual battleground between Wells has often been seen as being caught on an intellectual battleground between his scientific training in rational thought and his gift of a vivid imagination. his scientific training in rational thought and his gift of a vivid imagination.

Wallace's inability to bridge the gap between his imagination and his rational, Wallace's inability to bridge the gap between his imagination and his rational, scientific side leads to his death.scientific side leads to his death.

The story describes the plot and main themes of the story and relates these to the The story describes the plot and main themes of the story and relates these to the events, circumstances, and relationships that shaped Well's life. The story ends with events, circumstances, and relationships that shaped Well's life. The story ends with commentaries related to the nature of the man and also presents a personal opinion commentaries related to the nature of the man and also presents a personal opinion about H.G. Wells.about H.G. Wells.

summarysummary Redmond, the friend of the protagonist Lionel Wallace narrates the story of the Door in the Wall.Redmond, the friend of the protagonist Lionel Wallace narrates the story of the Door in the Wall. Wallace had lost his mother when he was two years old. His father was a hard and always a busy Wallace had lost his mother when he was two years old. His father was a hard and always a busy

lawyer.Also, he expected great things of him. He was grown by a nurse with a very hard discipline lawyer.Also, he expected great things of him. He was grown by a nurse with a very hard discipline education.education.

When he was a five years, he got away from home and met the door in the wall. As soon as he saw When he was a five years, he got away from home and met the door in the wall. As soon as he saw that he felt a strange gravity toward the door and wanted to open and enter to inside of the door.that he felt a strange gravity toward the door and wanted to open and enter to inside of the door.

He described this place was a yard, the wheather was so alive and the animals were so lovable.He He described this place was a yard, the wheather was so alive and the animals were so lovable.He told he found a lot of friends there.told he found a lot of friends there.

According to protagonist, the Green Door in the White Wall is a tool from escaping this boring According to protagonist, the Green Door in the White Wall is a tool from escaping this boring real life to reach a new different beautiful life.real life to reach a new different beautiful life.

He told he was playing games with his friends in the yard however, he never remembered none of He told he was playing games with his friends in the yard however, he never remembered none of the games. the games.

Throughout his life, he saw the Door three times, but he did not go inside.Whenever he saw the Throughout his life, he saw the Door three times, but he did not go inside.Whenever he saw the Door, he was trying to catch up to somewhere rashly.The last time was a short time before he dead.Door, he was trying to catch up to somewhere rashly.The last time was a short time before he dead.

Whenever he is bored this life, whenever he scares of something or he wants to give up he is taking Whenever he is bored this life, whenever he scares of something or he wants to give up he is taking shelter to this imaginary.shelter to this imaginary.

Although he has a full of successful life, he is not a happy man.Although he has a full of successful life, he is not a happy man. In the end of the story, one day protagonist is found dead. He opened a door in the wall which was In the end of the story, one day protagonist is found dead. He opened a door in the wall which was

let open mistakenly by the workers. But according to him, maybe he think he could reach to his let open mistakenly by the workers. But according to him, maybe he think he could reach to his yard.yard.

characterizationcharacterization RedmondRedmond

Redmond, the narrator of "The Door in the Wall," meets his old Redmond, the narrator of "The Door in the Wall," meets his old friend Wallace for a dinner one night. Wallace tells Redmond the friend Wallace for a dinner one night. Wallace tells Redmond the story of the door in the wall,however,is not sure if he should or story of the door in the wall,however,is not sure if he should or should not believe his friend's wild tale: "But whether he himself should not believe his friend's wild tale: "But whether he himself saw, or only thought he saw, whether he himself was the saw, or only thought he saw, whether he himself was the possessor of an inestimable privilege, or the victim of a fantastic possessor of an inestimable privilege, or the victim of a fantastic dream, I cannot pretend to guess." This unwillingness to judge his dream, I cannot pretend to guess." This unwillingness to judge his friend displays his sense of sympathy. Redmond represents the friend displays his sense of sympathy. Redmond represents the voice of reason, making Wallace's story more believable because voice of reason, making Wallace's story more believable because it is told by what readers assume is a reliable it is told by what readers assume is a reliable narrator.Furthermore,because Redmond is relating the tale,readers narrator.Furthermore,because Redmond is relating the tale,readers also learn of Wallaces strange death,which seems to verify the also learn of Wallaces strange death,which seems to verify the tale Wallace tells him at diner.Redmon’s account of the story tale Wallace tells him at diner.Redmon’s account of the story also lends it a tragic tone because it is related after Wallace’s also lends it a tragic tone because it is related after Wallace’s death- a feat not possible if Wallace himself was the narrator.death- a feat not possible if Wallace himself was the narrator.

Continue..Continue.. Lionel WallaceLionel Wallace

Wallace,protogonist and polician,lived a joyless life as a child and discovers a door Wallace,protogonist and polician,lived a joyless life as a child and discovers a door which leads to a visionary garden of happiness.His coutious nature is shown by his which leads to a visionary garden of happiness.His coutious nature is shown by his trepidation upon encountering the door,because he knows his father will be angry if trepidation upon encountering the door,because he knows his father will be angry if he opens it.A child of a strict,Victorian upbringing,Wallace has been considered to he opens it.A child of a strict,Victorian upbringing,Wallace has been considered to deny his imagination and put all his effort into becoming deny his imagination and put all his effort into becoming successful.Neverthheless,he young Wallace gives in to the temptations not yet he successful.Neverthheless,he young Wallace gives in to the temptations not yet he mastered self control and opens the door in the wall and finds himself in an ench mastered self control and opens the door in the wall and finds himself in an ench garden filled with beatiful flowers,tamed panthers and friendly children.When garden filled with beatiful flowers,tamed panthers and friendly children.When Wallace tells his father about the garden,his father punishes him for lying,causing Wallace tells his father about the garden,his father punishes him for lying,causing Wallace to supress the memory of the garden.Throughout his life,Wallace faces Wallace to supress the memory of the garden.Throughout his life,Wallace faces with a similar door a few times,but he is too driven by his ambition for worldly with a similar door a few times,but he is too driven by his ambition for worldly success to stop and open it.Now,at age of 39 and very successful,Wallace regrets success to stop and open it.Now,at age of 39 and very successful,Wallace regrets passing up the garden and vows to stop the next time he sees the door.This regret passing up the garden and vows to stop the next time he sees the door.This regret illustrates his desire to give in to imagination and to break free from his rational illustrates his desire to give in to imagination and to break free from his rational life.Wallace’s inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy,however,is life.Wallace’s inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy,however,is demonstrated at the story’s end when he is found dead at a construction site,having demonstrated at the story’s end when he is found dead at a construction site,having apparently mistaken a workmen’s door for the door to his garden.apparently mistaken a workmen’s door for the door to his garden.

Narrative techniqueNarrative technique The Door in the Wall'' is told from the point The Door in the Wall'' is told from the point

of view of Redmond, Wallace's friend. of view of Redmond, Wallace's friend. Redmond speaks in the first person ("I") as Redmond speaks in the first person ("I") as he relates Wallace's story. At first, Redmond he relates Wallace's story. At first, Redmond does not know if he should believe his does not know if he should believe his friend's wild tale: "But whether he himself friend's wild tale: "But whether he himself saw, or only thought he saw, whether he saw, or only thought he saw, whether he himself was the possessor of an inestimable himself was the possessor of an inestimable privilege, or the victim of a fantastic dream, privilege, or the victim of a fantastic dream, I cannot pretend to guess." The reader is I cannot pretend to guess." The reader is more willing to believe Wallace's fantastic more willing to believe Wallace's fantastic story .This particular point of view also story .This particular point of view also allows the reader to find out about Wallace’s allows the reader to find out about Wallace’s death,something that would not have been death,something that would not have been possible if Wallace told the story himself.possible if Wallace told the story himself.

This story was written chronologically.As an This story was written chronologically.As an example of it;the character Wallace reviews example of it;the character Wallace reviews his life from past to present in chronological his life from past to present in chronological order through the story,providing the reader order through the story,providing the reader to formulate their own idea of the the door to formulate their own idea of the the door in the wall. in the wall.

symbolssymbols The symbolic colors in this story The symbolic colors in this story

reinforce the contrasting reinforce the contrasting masculine/feminine symbols on masculine/feminine symbols on which so much of the story which so much of the story hinges.hinges.

If we give an examples of If we give an examples of symbols in the text:The white symbols in the text:The white wall is symbolised as Wallace’s wall is symbolised as Wallace’s desire for nurturing as he did not desire for nurturing as he did not experience good nurturing from experience good nurturing from his moher due to the fact taht she his moher due to the fact taht she passed away when she was passed away when she was young.It is also a very feminine young.It is also a very feminine symbol.symbol.

The gren door is The gren door is smbolizedas fertility.The smbolizedas fertility.The door itself is a common door itself is a common literary symbol taht literary symbol taht represents the passageway represents the passageway between the conscious and between the conscious and that unconscious.that unconscious.

Construction site causes his Construction site causes his death,symbolises a death,symbolises a construction site for his construction site for his childhood dreams.childhood dreams.

MAIN THEMESMAIN THEMES Alination and Loneliness:Alination and Loneliness: Whether Wallace's fantastic tale about the Whether Wallace's fantastic tale about the

garden is true is of less significance than the fact that it is a metaphor for garden is true is of less significance than the fact that it is a metaphor for his alienation and loneliness. Wallace's mother died when he was born, and his alienation and loneliness. Wallace's mother died when he was born, and his father was stern and expected great things of him. The treatment his father was stern and expected great things of him. The treatment Wallace received as a child forced him to retreat into a private world of Wallace received as a child forced him to retreat into a private world of imagination. The only place where he could find love and attention was imagination. The only place where he could find love and attention was through the door in the wall. Wallace was forced as a child to repress his through the door in the wall. Wallace was forced as a child to repress his imagination:"I tried to tell them, and my father gave me my first thrashing imagination:"I tried to tell them, and my father gave me my first thrashing for telling lies.When afterswards I tried to tell my aunt,she punishes me for telling lies.When afterswards I tried to tell my aunt,she punishes me again form y wicked persistence.Then as I said,everyone was forbidden to again form y wicked persistence.Then as I said,everyone was forbidden to listen to me,to hear a word about it.listen to me,to hear a word about it.

To sum up;Wallace estranged from his father,no real friends,bullied and as To sum up;Wallace estranged from his father,no real friends,bullied and as a result he escapes to the door in the wall,his escapes from reality.a result he escapes to the door in the wall,his escapes from reality.

Insanity:Insanity:Towards the end,Wallace becomes deranged as he once again Towards the end,Wallace becomes deranged as he once again tries to find the door in the wall.tries to find the door in the wall.

Childhood:Childhood:He wants to experience a real childhood because his childhood He wants to experience a real childhood because his childhood doesn’t go happy and full of restrictions.doesn’t go happy and full of restrictions.

Power and Imagination:Power and Imagination:Wallace believes the door in the wall to be Wallace believes the door in the wall to be real,overpowers reality.Fantasy has taken over his life.real,overpowers reality.Fantasy has taken over his life.

Other elementsOther elements Fantasy:Fantasy:Fantasy literature often creates suspense and leaves reader in a Fantasy literature often creates suspense and leaves reader in a

state where which events are caused by natural or supernatural state where which events are caused by natural or supernatural forces.’’The door in the wall’’readers are pulled in from a normal forces.’’The door in the wall’’readers are pulled in from a normal everyday situation into the fantasy world of the door in the everyday situation into the fantasy world of the door in the wall.Therefore,the readers unsure whether if Wallace have visited the wall.Therefore,the readers unsure whether if Wallace have visited the magical garden or is it created by his imagination.In the text as an magical garden or is it created by his imagination.In the text as an example:example: And before me ran this long wide path, invitingly, with And before me ran this long wide path, invitingly, with weedless beds on either side, rich with untended flowers, and these two weedless beds on either side, rich with untended flowers, and these two great panthers. I put my little hands fearlessly on their soft fur, and great panthers. I put my little hands fearlessly on their soft fur, and caressed their round ears and the sensitive corners under their ears, and caressed their round ears and the sensitive corners under their ears, and played with them, and it was as though they welcomed me home. There played with them, and it was as though they welcomed me home. There was a keen sense of home-coming in my mind, and when presently a was a keen sense of home-coming in my mind, and when presently a tall, fair girl appeared in the pathway and came to meet me, smiling, and tall, fair girl appeared in the pathway and came to meet me, smiling, and said 'Well?' to me, and lifted me, and kissed me, and put me down, and said 'Well?' to me, and lifted me, and kissed me, and put me down, and led me by the hand, there was no amazement, but only an impression of led me by the hand, there was no amazement, but only an impression of delightful rightness, of being reminded of happy things that had in some delightful rightness, of being reminded of happy things that had in some strange way been overlooked. strange way been overlooked.

And continue..And continue.. The passion of the past:The passion of the past: Early in the new century H. G. Wells suggested Early in the new century H. G. Wells suggested

through a compelling short story both the spell and the menace of a through a compelling short story both the spell and the menace of a nostalgia for a buried time. "The Door in the Wall''—patently sexual m nostalgia for a buried time. "The Door in the Wall''—patently sexual m much of its symbolism and implication—describes a lonely child's vision much of its symbolism and implication—describes a lonely child's vision of an enchanted garden, behind a green door in a high white wall, where of an enchanted garden, behind a green door in a high white wall, where the intruder feels instant joy and "a keen sense of homecoming," and the intruder feels instant joy and "a keen sense of homecoming," and where a benevolent somber woman, "very gentle and grave,'' shows him a where a benevolent somber woman, "very gentle and grave,'' shows him a picture book of his own life.picture book of his own life.

Psychoanalytic Interpretations:Psychoanalytic Interpretations: In "The Door in the Wall," H. G. Wells In "The Door in the Wall," H. G. Wells explores the relationship between imagination and reason, or between the explores the relationship between imagination and reason, or between the aesthetic and the practical. As a boy, Lionel Wallace, now a prominent aesthetic and the practical. As a boy, Lionel Wallace, now a prominent politician and man of the world, stumbled across a green door in a white politician and man of the world, stumbled across a green door in a white wall Entering, even though he felt certain "his father would be very angry," wall Entering, even though he felt certain "his father would be very angry," Wallace found a fantastic garden. He sees the green door several more Wallace found a fantastic garden. He sees the green door several more times during his life.times during his life.