War with the Newts: Difference between revisions

Karel Čapek segues from this point into short stories and newspaper clippings to tell of the eventual eponymous war with the Newts, as they come to be called, while sharply satirizing everything from Nazism to [[Hollywood]]. Oh, and he seemingly foretells the Munich Agreement, except Czechoslovakia is China, and [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] is the Newts.

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* [[Downer Ending]]: The ending seems to be this; Newts are about to take over the world, and Povondra is dying, guilt-ridden, as he considers himself responsible. However, the author then starts an argument with an internal voice, that tells him that he can't finish the story like that. He eventually envisions a war between the different kind of Newts in which they destroy themselves, and humanity can retake what remains of Earth.

* [[It's All My Fault]]: When the use of the Newts has positive effects, Povondra likes to claim that it's all thanks to him, because he let van Toch in. When the war breaks out, and the Newts reach Czechoslovakia, he feels horrible guilt. His son, however, tells him that it isn't really his fault; everyone is guilty.

* [[Master Race]]: Poking fun at the Third Reich, Čapek has German government claim that German Newts are a superior Nordic race and deserve more "lebensraum" than the inferior Newts of other countries.

* [[Slave Race]]: The Newts.

* [[Turned Against Their Masters]]: The inevitable Newt rebellion.

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[[Category:Science Fiction Literature]]

[[Category:Literature]]