The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

     Although there are no evident traces of intelligent lifeforms in our solar system and our parts of the galaxy so far, we do know that the cosmos is infinitely vast and that we are not the only ones here. The novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells introduces an important quote by a friend of the protagonist, Ogilvy, which greatly contributes the start of the story; "'The chances against anything man-like on Mars are a million to one,' he said." This quote not only symbolizes but foreshadows the main start of the climax in the novel.
     The protagonist, prior to the quote, observes Mars through a telescope. He later reveals his great fascination for Mars, and ideas concerning life and civilization. This foreshadows that if there just so happens to be life on Mars, or any trace else where for that matter, he would be destined to get involved. This is probably one of the major reasons for the climax of the story, the character is placing himself in a possibly dangerous position.
     The protagonist, after observing Mars, recalls seeing very fine projectiles hurdling towards his direction very near the red planet. He hadn't even taken any notice of it until having retold it in the novel, and assumed the projectiles were passing meteorites. The meteorites are a symbol that something of epic proportions is either happening on Mars, and/or coming to Earth. This also foreshadows the possibility that those "meteorites" may contain intelligent life or some trace of them, from Mars or even other places in the galaxy.
     The statement that Ogilvy had made, is much like what NASA would say today. Essentially he is saying that there is "no" chance that there is any life on other planets, even Mars which is strikingly similar to Earth. Seeing that the book is titled The War of the Worlds, the ideas that people have, like Ogilvy's, represents those who are in denial or unable to comprehend the actual reality of it all, what is "blocking the bridge". It foreshadows that there must be life on the red planet, that would force those on Earth, in the story, to see the other world, the "unblocking of the bridge". This is most likely to create conflict between humans and the martians in the novel, and develop into what could be considered a war.