# The Narrator — The War of the Worlds character guide

> The Narrator in The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** I, me, mine, myself

**First appearance:** 0004-i-the-eve-of-the-war

## Who they are

An unnamed philosophical writer whose cool, cosmic curiosity turns to survival instinct when he becomes an eyewitness to the Martian invasion of southern England.

## In the story

### [The War of the Worlds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/the-war-of-the-worlds)

The narrator observes the Martian landing and the Heat-Ray massacre, providing a first-hand account of the invasion's beginning.

### [Book I: The Coming of the Martians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/book-i-the-coming-of-the-martians)

The narrator observes the landing of the first cylinder and the Martian attack, documenting the events firsthand.

### [The Eve of the War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/i-the-eve-of-the-war)

The narrator reflects on the events leading up to the Martian invasion, recalling his observations and conversations with Ogilvy, as well as a tranquil walk with his wife.

### [II: The Falling Star](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/ii-the-falling-star)

Hears about the cylinder from his newspaper boy and goes to investigate.

### [On Horsell Common](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/iii-on-horsell-common)

Visits the cylinder site twice, observes the crowd and the scientists, and is asked to fetch Lord Hilton.

### [IV: The Cylinder Opens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/iv-the-cylinder-opens)

Returns to the common, witnesses the cylinder opening and the first Martian emergence, then flees in terror.

### [V: The Heat-Ray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/v-the-heat-ray)

Watches the Martians from a distance, experiences fear and curiosity, and narrowly escapes the heat-ray.

### [VI: The Heat-Ray in the Chobham Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/vi-the-heat-ray-in-the-chobham-road)

Provides a first-hand account of the heat-ray's effects and the crowd's reaction.

### [VII: How I Reached Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/vii-how-i-reached-home)

Experiences psychological detachment and exhaustion after fleeing the heat-ray; returns home and attempts to rationalize the Martian threat to his wife.

### [Friday Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/viii-friday-night)

Reflects on the contrast between everyday life and the unfolding invasion.

### [IX: The Fighting Begins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/ix-the-fighting-begins)

Describes the day of suspense, interacts with soldiers and neighbors, secures a dog cart, and flees with his wife and servant.

### [X: In the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/x-in-the-storm)

Drives his wife to Leatherhead, returns alone, witnesses the third cylinder and Martian tripods, and struggles home through the storm.

### [XI: At the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/xi-at-the-window)

Observes the Martian devastation from his study window, provides shelter and food to the artilleryman, and reflects on the scale of destruction.

### [XII: What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/xii-what-i-saw-of-the-destruction-of-weybridge-and-shepperton)

Narrates the destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton, escapes the Heat-Ray by diving into the river, and plans to take his wife to Newhaven.

### [XIII: How I Fell in with the Curate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/xiii-how-i-fell-in-with-the-curate)

Escapes the destruction of Weybridge by boat, lands near Walton, and meets the curate. He tries to calm the curate's religious panic.

### [XV: What Had Happened in Surrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/xv-what-had-happened-in-surrey)

Observes the Martian offensive from a ditch and later from a deserted house in Upper Halliford.

### [Book II: The Earth Under the Martians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/book-ii-the-earth-under-the-martians)

The narrator observes the Martian occupation and reflects on the fall of human society.

### [Under Foot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/i-under-foot)

Anxious for his wife's safety, he takes initiative to find food and escape, leading the way through the devastated landscape.

### [II: What We Saw from the Ruined House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/ii-what-we-saw-from-the-ruined-house)

Provides a first-hand, analytical account of Martian biology and behavior, drawing on his observations and psychological knowledge.

### [III: The Days of Imprisonment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/iii-the-days-of-imprisonment)

Observes the Martians from the peephole, struggles with the curate's behavior, and considers escape plans.

### [IV: The Death of the Curate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/iv-the-death-of-the-curate)

Desperately tries to keep the curate quiet and ration food; kills the curate to prevent detection by Martians; hides in coal cellar as Martian tentacle explores.

### [V: The Stillness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/v-the-stillness)

Emerges from hiding after days without food or water, observes the changed landscape, and finally climbs out of the pit.

### [VI: The Work of Fifteen Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/vi-the-work-of-fifteen-days)

Emerges from the pit, scavenges for food, and wanders through the transformed landscape, feeling dethroned and isolated.

### [The Man on Putney Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/vii-the-man-on-putney-hill)

The narrator listens to the artilleryman's plan, works with him on the tunnel, and begins to question the practicality of the scheme.

### [Dead London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/viii-dead-london)

Wanders alone through dead London, observes the Martians' death, and reflects on the city's silent desolation.

### [Wreckage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/ix-wreckage)

Experiences a three-day lapse in memory after the Martian defeat, is cared for by strangers, and later returns to his desolate home.

### [X: The Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/x-the-epilogue)

Concludes his story, reflecting on the invasion's aftermath and his personal trauma.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/narrator
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters