The Concrete Mixer
Ray Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man: The Concrete Mixer
Imperialism
Ray Bradbury’s “The Concrete Mixer,” tells the story of a Martian named Ettil, who refuses to invade Earth on the theory that the people of Earth have greater morale than the people of Mars. Ettil had feared that his people were doomed to the same fate as the people in his books: whom at the end of every story were conquered by Earth. When the Martians’ arrive to Earth nothing is as any of them thought it would be. They had been anticipating a great battle but instead the Earth people met with friendly faces and open arms. Ettil walks around Earth paranoid, and confused by the people of Earth’s hospitality. Ettil finds himself more frightened by the human’s amicable attitude, than he was when he thought they were going to battle. “War is a bad thing, but peace can be a living horror” (233) Throughout “The Concrete Mixer,” there appeared to be a few reoccurring themes: one of the themes being, imperialism. Though in the story Martians’ supposedly “conquer” Earth, the Martians’ were still expected to conform to American ideals.
Brother…You are in a bad and sinful condition. I blame it on your ignorant bring up. I bet those schools on Mars are terrible- don’t teach you no truth at all. Just a pack of made-up lies. Brother, you got to be baptized if you want to be happy.” (224)
In this quote Ettil comes in contact with a religious elderly woman, who tries to save him. The old lady believes that since Ettil grew up with the same religion as she, he is in danger and needs to be saved. She explains to him how she saved a few of the other Martians’ and how she can help save him too. This is an example of imperialism because she assumes that the Martians’ need her help and that the culture of Earth people is superior to the culture of Martians. Another theme that was present in “The concrete Mixer” was the characters of Earth dependency on their toys:
“‘Like to got to the pictures?’ she
Imperialism
Ray Bradbury’s “The Concrete Mixer,” tells the story of a Martian named Ettil, who refuses to invade Earth on the theory that the people of Earth have greater morale than the people of Mars. Ettil had feared that his people were doomed to the same fate as the people in his books: whom at the end of every story were conquered by Earth. When the Martians’ arrive to Earth nothing is as any of them thought it would be. They had been anticipating a great battle but instead the Earth people met with friendly faces and open arms. Ettil walks around Earth paranoid, and confused by the people of Earth’s hospitality. Ettil finds himself more frightened by the human’s amicable attitude, than he was when he thought they were going to battle. “War is a bad thing, but peace can be a living horror” (233) Throughout “The Concrete Mixer,” there appeared to be a few reoccurring themes: one of the themes being, imperialism. Though in the story Martians’ supposedly “conquer” Earth, the Martians’ were still expected to conform to American ideals.
Brother…You are in a bad and sinful condition. I blame it on your ignorant bring up. I bet those schools on Mars are terrible- don’t teach you no truth at all. Just a pack of made-up lies. Brother, you got to be baptized if you want to be happy.” (224)
In this quote Ettil comes in contact with a religious elderly woman, who tries to save him. The old lady believes that since Ettil grew up with the same religion as she, he is in danger and needs to be saved. She explains to him how she saved a few of the other Martians’ and how she can help save him too. This is an example of imperialism because she assumes that the Martians’ need her help and that the culture of Earth people is superior to the culture of Martians. Another theme that was present in “The concrete Mixer” was the characters of Earth dependency on their toys:
“‘Like to got to the pictures?’ she