Rhetorical Questions

In his short story, “The Last Night of the World”, Ray Bradbury explores the rhetorical question by asking, “What would you do if you knew that this was the last night of the world?” (Bradbury 1). Wondering why or how it could possibly be the last night of the world, the wife presumes to ask if it is due to a war, a hydrogen, or an atomic bomb or because of the germ warfare. Nevertheless, it was simply due to the fact that, that night was “the closing of a book” (Bradbury 1). Through the characters thoughts and actions Bradbury is able to express the ability of acceptance in things that cannot be changed and accepting and overcoming the thought and feeling of fear. Bradbury presents endless thoughts yet understandings within the characters.

The most important question that sparked up countless of thoughts to the married couple, was asked by the husband to the wife. The married couple were casually conversing in their household as their two daughters, “were playing blocks on the parlor rug in the light of the green hurricane lamps” (Bradbury 1). The laughter of their two daughters in the background embraced a home filled with life and love. With such an absurd question the husband asked and the two remained calm. Bradbury was able to describe a setting and a background at peace and relaxation to the characters despite the situation presented.
This simple yet thoughtful question began with a dream, a dream multiple adults were having including the husband himself, the wife, employees at the husbands office and a woman that lived on their block. Yet, the people throughout the town were not talking about it, nor was it published in the newspaper. Both in confusion and in shock wondered why the people were so careless about that night being the last night of the world. The wife tells her husband, “I don’t know, you don’t get too excited when you feel things are logical. This is logical. Nothing else but this could have happened from the way we’ve lived” (Bradbury 3). Here, the wife confessed that in reality there is nothing extraordinary that will be occurring that night and because of their actions committed, there is valid point for what will occur that night. Furthermore, Bradbury expressed the feeling of carelessness, regardless of their knowledge upon the world ending that night. Through this, Bradbury was able to convey irony because although the characters knew the world was ending they continued to remain calm and not “screaming in the streets” (Bradbury 3).
Moreover, Bradbury was able to incorporate the feelings and thoughts of the married couple. Bradbury made it clear that the husband had mixed feelings towards the situation and the idea of the world coming to an end. He confesses to his wife, “Sometimes it frightens me; sometimes I’m not frightened at all but at peace” (Bradbury 1). On the other hand, the husband also realized that the wife did not argue and questioned why. He asks his wife, “Are you afraid?” (Bradbury 3), the wife in response tells him, “No. I always thought I would be, but I’m not” (Bradbury 3). Through the wife’s confession, Bradbury was able to portray and express the acceptance of fear in the world coming to an end. The couple accepted their fears together as one.
As the married couple continued to understand and accept the idea that death was upon them, questions began to arise about the good and the bad presented throughout their lives. The husband asks, “We haven’t been too bad, have we?” (Bradbury 2). The wife thought they were not too bad nor too good, but “a big part of the world was busy being lots of quite awful things” (Bradbury 2). The wife admits that although they have been good but they have also been bad. Through this Bradbury was also able to express the idea that the married couple could have done things differently and prevented certain situations and outcomes. Yet, Bradbury was able to portray the understatements of the married couple, which also allowed the two characters to accept their doings and the bad doings of the rest of the universe.
Trying to find further reasonings and justifications for what was about to occur that night, Bradbury allowed the married couple to express their true feelings to one another.

The husband proceeded to tell his wife, “Do you know, I won’t miss anything but you and the girls. I never liked the cities or my work or anything except you three. I won’t miss a thing except perhaps the change in the weather, and a glass of water when it’s hot, and I might miss sleeping” (Bradbury 3). The husband admits to the wife that he never liked his life or his surroundings. He admits to her that the only three things that kept him going were herself and their two daughters. Within this he also expresses his appreciation for the little and simple things in life, such as a glass of water when he is thirsty. Bradbury allowed the husband to think that the end of the world was not too bad

afterall.
As time continued to elapse, the married couple thought about how they should spend their last few hours.

They also thought about how others surrounding them were spending their time as the late night arrived and the world came to an end. However, Bradbury allowed the married couple to continue their day and their normal routine. The married couple proceeded to wash the dishes and put their two daughters to bed. As the two girls were put to bed and kissed goodnight, “the little lights by their beds turned on and the door left open just a trifle” (Bradbury 3). Acting as if nothing was about to change that night, the thought of their daughters arose. The married couple worried that their daughters had the slightest clue of what would change and end their lives. The wife tells the husband, “I wonder if the children know” (Bradbury 3). On the other hand, the husband assured the wife that they were clueless and tells her “No, of course not” (Bradbury 3). Bradbury displayed the dream to be symbolic to adults and not to

children.
With all the wondering and unanswered questions, one thing that was certain was that that night was October 19, 1969. To the married couple there was something different about the date. “This date means more than any other date ever meant; because it’s the year when things are as they are all over the world and that’s why it’s the end” (Bradbury 3). Bradbury’s theme throughout the short story was long-standing in regards of acceptance. The married couple tried to find a justification for it being the last night of the world, but they did not argue against it. That night, the married couple spent their last few hours together. The husband asked, “Do you want to cry?” (Bradbury 4), the wife answered, “I don’t think so” (Bradbury 4). Through this, Bradbury was able to portray certainty that both characters knew and understood that fear was not presented upon the last night of the world. Bradbury also allowed the married couple to understand that although the world was ending the two have been good to each other. Bradbury gave the married couple comfort, as they kissed each other goodnight on their last night of the world. All the events Bradbury incorporated throughout the short story allowed the married couple to accept they could not change the outcome, nor include their feelings into the last night of the world.
Throughout the story, there were various of the questions and ‘what ifs’ presented to the characters. The couple thought about their doings to the universe, along with the doings of others. They also thought their daughters and how they should spend their last few moments on earth. However, nothing was done to prevent the situation from occurring. Through the characters feelings, thoughts and actions Bradbury was able to express the ability of acceptance, both being with accepting things that cannot be changed and accepting and overcoming their fears. Through his short, story Bradbury had the capability of portraying that some things are better left unsaid and untouched despite the situation and obstacles presented.