“The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster discusses the relationship between humans and machines. Throughout the price, he portrays a society in which machines took over humanity. Ultimately, it reaches the point where human depends on machines to live, and without machines human will die. It is quite ironic in ways that humans seek to become independent but however, they are the one who allows themselves to depend on non-living objects, machines. It is even more ironic when we consider that those non-living objects were created by them. The sentence, “Cannot you see, cannot all you lecturers see, that it is we that are dying, and that down here the only thing that really lives is the Machine? We created the Machine, to do our will, but we cannot make it do our will” (15) written by E.M Forster really struck me to see that it is our own behaviours that harm our societies, and it is only to mankind that should be blamed. It’s totally ironic that whilst humans struggle to live, machines – created by mankind – live smoothly.
It is all because humans placed machines to a degree that exceeds necessity, resulting in how they “worship the Machine” (11). In the piece, Vashti knows that her son is in danger or even is facing death because of his choice to get rid of and be independent of the machines. She loves her son and cares for her son. But still, she chose to go back to her machines as if the machines are more important to her.
After reading this piece, it came to my realization that if we continue the process of technological dependence, we would soon reach the point where human beings are replaced by machines. And thus, instead of celebrating the significances of mankind, it will give rise to the society composing of the boss – machines and their slaves – humans.