How does the book War of the Worlds relate to Xenophobia?

I have to do a speech about the themes of War of the Worlds and also talk about Xenophobia (the fear and hatred of the strange and foreigners). Although I fail to see how the book relates to Xenophobia. In my opinion it is just about invasion and war.|||You are correct in that Xenophobia used to relate to foreigners (the orignal aliens) from other countries. Popular culture has now expanded the term aliens to include extraterrestrial creatures too. Therefore Xenophobia also applies to them.


HG Wells wrote the War of the Worlds Martians as strange leathery creatures with tentacles who favoured giant three-legged machines and 'heat rays'. Enough to give anyone the shivers (and very similar to the aliens in Independence Day as it happens) and set off the average persons Xenophobia.


It didn't help that the Martian's intent was to conquer Earth and acquire our resources for themselves (Pretty peaceful aliens - NOT! Bloodthirsty war freaks - YES. They literally consumed human blood..which is what killed them in the end).


Orson Wells adapted War of the Worlds into a radio broadcast in 1938, creating 'news bulletins' that warned New York City that aliens were invading. Not such a clever idea in hindsight as it caused mass panic thanks to New Yorkers' fears and Xenophobia (who wants to be captured by a blood-sucking tentacled three legged alien?).


And the theme continues, playing on our phobias. Alien, Predator, 'V', District 9, The Day the Earth Stood Still and so on.


Hope this helps











Most of the books/films about aliens are xenophobic. The way the book seems to portray the Martians as bloodthirsty war freaks relate to Xenophobia because, for all we know, they could be pretty peaceful but instead they are portrayed as barbarians JUST because they are from another planet/ are foreign to us.|||Most of the books/films about aliens are xenophobic. The way the book seems to portray the Martians as bloodthirsty war freaks relate to Xenophobia because, for all we know, they could be pretty peaceful but instead they are portrayed as barbarians JUST because they are from another planet/ are foreign to us. Hope this helps? :)


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