Where is the setting in the time machine and how is it important to the story?

The setting in "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells is primarily in late 19th-century England and a far future Earth inhabited by two distinct species, the Eloi and the Morlocks. The contrast between the decaying, stratified society of the 19th century and the dystopian future highlights Wells's social commentary on class division and the consequences of societal evolution. The setting helps convey the themes of progress, technology, and the potential consequences of societal choices.