MovieChat Forums > The Time Machine (1960) Discussion > The spelling of ''Eloi''

The spelling of ''Eloi''

posted 11 years ago by Tresix
3 replies | jump to latest

No doubt, the Eloi's name is spelled the way that it is in the book, but I wonder how George knew how to spell it. Since Weena didn't really know how to read, did she just go along with what he wrote? I would have thought he would have spelled it with a "y" instead of an "i".

"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012

[–] Clive-Silas 10 years ago

As a classically educated Englishman, he would have been aware of Greek plural endings, and that is what he gave the plural noun Eloi.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12500) 2 years ago

Excellent point. A 'y' on the end would be churlish.

[–] Dolemite (87) 2 years ago

The origins of the words, "Eloi" and "Morlocks", I took to be "Elite", for the Eloi (in the original novel they had been in charge) and "manual workers" for Morlocks, who seemed to provide the material goods.