The Day of the Triffids - Ch. 1 - 3
Please use this thread for discussing the above chapters.
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Wyndham does a nice job setting up the story. Initially we don't know why Bill's eyes are bandaged, and since this story is supposed to be about triffids, I was surprised to read about this mysterious meteor shower because it seems at first to be completely unconnected to triffids.Robert Tulip wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:09 pm Starting off with ‘something seriously wrong somewhere’ introduces a gradually deepening sense of mystery and anxiety. It turns out that almost everyone is blind, except for the lucky few who by chance did not witness a spectacular bright green meteor shower the night before. Our narrator, Bill Masen, had his eyes bandaged after being nearly blinded by a triffid attack, and so has retained his sight.
At this stage of the novel, it seems improbable that blindness can be the outcome of both the meteor shower and the mysterious arrival of an ambulatory plant species that seems to “know” to go for the eyes. We shall see.It was . . . quite a while before anyone drew attention to the uncanny accuracy with which they [triffids] aimed their stings, and that they almost invariably struck for the head. Nor did anyone at first take notice of their habit of lurking near their fallen victims. The reason for that became clear only when it was shown that they fed upon flesh as well as upon insects.
It is one of the mysteries of the story. Where did triffids come from? But the appearance of the blinding comets strikes me as much greater mystery, especially since the blindness renders the masses so much more vulnerable to a triffid invasion. Indeed, after being attacked by some triffids (and seeing several deaths), Bill does wonder about this connection, remembering what his friend Walter had said some months before.Robert Tulip wrote: ↑Sat Aug 12, 2023 5:40 pm
Speculation on the sudden occurrence of the triffids was quite similar to the debates about the origin of Covid 19.
Regarding the origins of Covid, there isn't really a consensus. Many still insist it was a naturally-occurring virus that spread from a bat to humans. Others believe it may have been leaked from a lab. The lab-leak theory certainly is plausible, especially considering the fact that scientists were actually conducting coronavirus research in Wuhan, the possible epicenter of the Covid pandemic.. . . it seemed a bit uncanny now…. “Take away our sight,” he had said, “and our superiority to them is gone.” Of course coincidences are happening all the time—but it’s just now and then you happen to notice them….
There's some truth to Bill's train of thought here. But I would argue if Bill becomes too callous and too unsympathetic to the plight of others, he will cease to become a sympathetic character. And, so far, he seems perilously close to this point. I hope he will prevail with humanity intact. Same with Josella . . .There’s nothing else but the alcoholic funk hole. If you don’t fight to live your own life in spite of it, there won’t be any survival…. Only those who can make their minds tough enough to stick it are going to get through….”
The origin of the triffids came from the need for genetic engineering to increase food supply. Amidst political debate about satellites designed to conduct biological warfare, nations conducted secret research on improved vegetable oils. Russia had developed a super oil, and agents conspired to covertly export its seeds. Bill speculates that when the secret agent tried to fly out of Russia with triffid seeds he was downed by Russian planes, and the rocket that hit him broke open the container of seeds which floated like gossamer on the wind, and very soon these dangerous walking stinging intelligent engineered accidental Frankenstein plants were found in almost every part of the world.
The triffid cautionary fable is like how the COVID lab leak theory holds that the academic interest of virologists in gain of function research to increase the virulence of disease through genetic engineering led them to hubristically over-estimate their ability to manage and control such a dangerous product, even in such a dysfunctional country as China. The ability of linear thinking to ignore confounding factors and risks of chaotic systems is very high.The Covid lab-leak theory certainly is plausible, especially considering the fact that scientists were actually conducting coronavirus research in Wuhan, the possible epicenter of the Covid pandemic.