Theme Of The Pedestrian By Ray Bradbury

In a stringent, futuristic world dominated by media, The Pedestrian, written by Ray Bradbury, showed the perils of losing humanity, in an age flooded with technology. Bradbury’s use of dark descriptive language coupled with futuristic emptiness and a strong, amiable character, left the reader saddened yet inspired. The dystopian parable rendered Bradbury’s life in Los Angeles, with its bleak attack on urban alienation. “Ray Bradbury Biography” Bradbury 's work evokes the themes of isolation, technology, censorship, and humanistic values. “America is not anything if it consists of each of us. It is something only if it consists of us all [together].” (Wilson 13).

Bradbury’s stories celebrate ordinary life; in a field preoccupied with the future.

Set in November of 2052; elements of desolate streets and constant television broadcast surround the protagonist, Mr. Leonard Mead. Mead, a novelistic writer, found enjoyment in evening walks, compared to the other brain-dead civilians, who glued themselves to their television sets; watching mindlessly in their bleak, barren homes. Bradbury’s imagery built the setting with similes on death recurring constantly. “The people sat like the dead.”, “A tomb-like building”, and “walking through a graveyard”, (Bradbury 1). Bradbury gives impressions of decaying, damaged life style which destroyed the formerly bright society. Bradbury’s simplistic word choice, allowed the reader to picture strong, obscure imagery; creating an impacting scene in their mind.

The hollowness in the world of 2052 found prominent with its dark, unenthusiastic atmosphere. Bradbury made subtle references to the cold; “Misty Evening in November” (Bradbury 1), intentionally setting the story in winter. The police car, described as feeling emotionless with its voice sounding “metallic," (Bradbury 1) suggested cold and soulless thoughts also. The emptiness of this world caused low crime rates, mainly due to society’s conformity, inside of their own homes. “In a city of three million, there was only one police car left.” (Bradbury 1). Bradbury created a world where technology overran

Set in the twenty-fourth century, Fahrenheit 451, introduced a world in which control of the masses by the media, overpopulation, and censorship took over the general population. Television replaced the common perception of family and individualism, marked as an outlaw. Books transpired as evil; making people question and think on their own. The people lived in a world with no reminders of history or appreciation of the past, except through the television. Bradbury introduced this new world through Guy Montag, the protagonist, who burned book for a living. Similar to Mead, Montag questioned and thought for himself; soon getting themselves into trouble. Disillusioned with Montag empty way of life and brutality of his profession, Montag began illegally reading books and hiding them in his home. Technology in Fahrenheit 451, prohibits happiness, causing depression and suicide in the society. Both in The Pedestrian and Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury conveyed new media such as the television and internet; negatively affecting human interest in reading and socialism.

Through lonely, ill-fated, descriptive language, The Pedestrian left readers shocked and whirling with realism of the story. Bradbury 's message hit home as a firm warning, yet adds a glimpse of hope. The Pedestrian prompt its reader to reflect on their surroundings and continue its relevance despite the vast changing