lesson

In the story, the human race has diverged into two branches. The wealthy, leisured classes appear to have devolved into the weak and not very bright Eloi. Since they have subjugated nature, then they have no further need for technology, agriculture, or innovations to improve life, so they become unimaginative and incurious about the world. With no work to do, they become physically weak and small in stature. But the working classes have evolved into the bestial Morlock.