What is the Meaning of "The Machine Stops"?
E. M. Forster's "The Machine Stops" depicts a post-apocalyptic underground society that worships and lives under the rule and care of what they refer to as "the Machine". Under the rule of said machine, everyone loses their values and they begin to lack critical thinking as its no longer necessary to them. My question is, "What is the meaning of 'The Machine Stops'?". Upon finishing my first reading of the short story, I only thought it was a critique of society's overreliance on technology. However, upon further inspection I have come up with another possible meaning to the story. It could be argued that "The Machine Stops" aims to critique some of the freaky cult and "behavior modification" schools that were far more popular at the time of the story's conception. It's possible the futuristic society portrayed by Forster is meant to show what would happen if these abusive child correction facilities became commo...