The Empire of the Ants by H. G. Wells: Summary, Analysis & Themes

The most successful and satisfying period of H. G. Wells’s long writing career spanned from around 1894 to 1904. Notable works from this period include short stories and novels such as The Food of the Gods, In the Days of the Comet, The War in the Air, and The World Set Free. Among Wells's mid-career stories, ‘The Empire of the Ants’, published in Strand magazine in December 1905, stands out as one of the finest shorter works.

Summary

‘The Empire of the Ants’ follows a group of men traveling to a fictional location in the Amazon basin in South America to assist the locals in dealing with a plague of ants.

The captain of the ship, Gerilleau, describes the ants to Holroyd, a Lancashire engineer in the group.

He recounts an incident where the ants attacked a house, partially destroying it. When the family's son returned to the house, believing the ants had left, he was attacked and killed by a swarm.

The crew discovers an abandoned boat with the decayed bodies of two men and the deck covered with moving black specks – the ants. The lieutenant, ordered to investigate, is stung by the ants and dies that night.

The captain and Holroyd deliberate on how to handle the ant infestation. The captain decides to use the ship's big gun to fire at the ants.

Concluding Remarks

The narrator concludes by acknowledging the fragmented nature of the narrative, as relayed by Holroyd, who has become obsessed with the ants and warns the English to prepare before it’s ‘too late’.

The narrator also describes the spread of the ants across South America, emphasizing their poison, akin to snake venom, as a significant threat rather than their organizational capabilities.

Holroyd predicts that in several decades, the ants will have reached Europe, having displaced humans from South America entirely.

Analysis

‘The Empire of the Ants’ exemplifies Wells’s recurring theme of human vulnerability in the face of an animal species' threat. Despite technological advances, nature remains a formidable adversary.

Brian Aldiss, in Trillion Year Spree, argues that modern science fiction has roots in Gothic literature, which is evident in Wells’s works.

‘The Empire of the Ants’ combines Gothic tropes with a new threat that could potentially unseat humanity from its dominant position.

Wells’s story explicitly addresses the evolution of ants, suggesting they could develop intelligence, language, and organizational skills, much like humans.

Historical and Literary Context

Wells’s narrative reflects Darwinian evolution, suggesting that a new killer species could emerge through genetic mutation or existing species evolving sentience.

This idea has modern parallels in technology, where computers and robots gain sentience and turn against humans, as seen in works like Fred Saberhagen’s Berserker series and The Terminator.

Major Themes

Key Themes in "The Empire of the Ants"

Theme	Description
Human Vulnerability	Despite technological advancements, humans find themselves powerless against the organized might of a seemingly insignificant species: ants
Threat from the Unexpected	Rapid ant evolution challenges human dominance. The fear stems from the unexpected - the ants' rapid evolution and their potential to dethrone humanity as the dominant species.
Fear of Intelligent Non-Human Species	The story explores anxieties about intelligent "others" surpassing humanity. The story explores the concept of natural selection, where even the smallest creatures hold the potential to evolve into something far more formidable. This fear of an "other" surpassing humanity has been a recurring trope in science fiction.
Darwinian Evolution and Natural Selection	Even small creatures can evolve into formidable threats. Holroyd's anxieties stem from the concept of natural selection, where even the smallest creatures hold the potential to evolve into something far more formidable.
The Precariousness of Human Dominance	The story reminds us of humanity's fragile position on Earth. "The Empire of the Ants" serves as a chilling reminder of the precariousness of human dominance on Earth. It urges us to consider the potential consequences of neglecting the power that lies dormant within the natural world, even in the seemingly insignificant.
The Power of the Natural World	We should respect the power held within the natural world. The story continues to resonate with readers today, a testament to Wells' ability to weave scientific concepts into captivating narratives that explore our place in a vast and ever-evolving universe.