The Machine Stops – My Summary & Reflections

 


Introduction

I recently read The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster, and I was shocked to learn that it was written in 1909. The story feels eerily similar to modern society, especially after the pandemic. During the pandemic, people had to isolate themselves, and social interactions became limited to digital communication. Reading this book made me reflect on my own life—I haven't gone outside for months, spending almost 24 hours a day creating content online, only leaving my room to sleep. This book made me wonder: Are we already living in the world Forster predicted?

Summaries of Key Passages

1. The Book of the Machine

📖 “By her side, on the little reading-desk, was a survival from the ages of litter - one book. This was the Book of the Machine. In it were instructions against every possible contingency.”

  • Who? Vashti
  • What? Vashti relies on the Book for every aspect of her life.
  • Where? Inside her isolated room.
  • Why? The Book is treated like a sacred text, similar to a religious guide.

📌 Summary: Vashti treats the Book of the Machine like a bible, following its instructions for every situation.

2. Man is the Measure

👣 “You know that we have lost the sense of space... Man is the measure. That was my first lesson.”

  • Who? Kuno
  • What? Kuno tries to reclaim his physical senses by walking.
  • Where? His room.
  • Why? He wants to remind Vashti that humans should measure the world physically, not just through the Machine.

📌 Summary: Kuno reminds Vashti that humans should rely on their own physical senses, not just technology.

3. Worship of the Machine

🙏 “The Machine is omnipotent, eternal; blessed is the Machine.”

  • Who? Citizens of the underground world.
  • What? The Machine is treated like a god, and those who question it face death.
  • Where? Underground society.
  • Why? The Machine has replaced religion, and doubters are persecuted.

📌 Summary: The Machine is worshipped like a god, and those who do not conform are exiled and left to die.

4. The Silence Comes

🔇 “She had never known silence, and the coming of it nearly killed her—it did kill many thousands of people outright.”

  • Who? Vashti
  • What? The artificial systems stop working.
  • Where? Vashti’s cell.
  • Why? It foreshadows the Machine’s collapse and the downfall of society.

📌 Summary: The Machine fails, silence replaces the constant hum of technology, and disaster follows.

Reflections & Final Thoughts

This book made me reflect deeply on how much we rely on technology today. The people in The Machine Stops live in isolated rooms, communicating only through screens—just like how many of us live now, constantly connected to the internet but disconnected from real human experiences.

Kuno's message, “Man is the measure,” stood out to me. It reminded me that no matter how advanced technology becomes, we should never lose our connection to the physical world.

💬 What do you think? Have you read The Machine Stops? Do you see similarities between this story and modern society? Let me know in the comments!

📌 If you enjoyed this post, follow my blog for more book summaries and reflections!

In 1909, E.M. Forster wrote "The Machine Stops," a chilling short story predicting a future where humanity lives in isolation, relying entirely on technology. Sounds familiar?

I made a short video summarizing this story and how it reflects our world today. Watch it below and let me know—have we already become part of the Machine?


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