The Destruction Of Human Nature In Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles

In Ray Bradbury’s work Martian Chronicles, various aspects of human nature are emphasized. The author writes of how different characters take a trip to Mars and show their behavioral response to different situations. Bradbury advances his theory of the destruction of Earthen civilization through these short stories. Throughout Martian Chronicles, Bradbury argues that different aspects of human nature such as ignorance, inability to change, and hypocrisy corrupts the morals of society. Bradbury shows how the ignorance is the self destructive turning away from the truths in life. In the short story “Usher II”, the character Stendahl invites those responsible for the burning of the books over to his mansion located in Mars, then proceeds to
In the short story “Silent Towns”, the characters Walter Gripp and Genevieve Selsor are utilized to portray Bradbury’s criticism of the inability for humans to embrace change. When Walter Gripps first views Genevieve Selsor, “Walter stopped. His smile dissolved” (152). The character Genevieve is described as physically unappealing, and Bradbury uses this description to portray raw human nature. Throughout the story the two characters are seen disrespecting each other, and proceeding to point out the flaws in the other person instead of trying to improve themselves. Walter Gripp stubbornly refuses to view Genevieve as anything other than disgusting, and is unwilling to accept her characteristics. Through this, Bradbury brings to the attention of his audience what the problem between the two characters essentially is, stubbornness. Through Walter Gripp’s ironic expectation of self fulfillment and Genevieve's inconsiderate actions, Bradbury portrays the fickle nature of humans and the consequences that may follow such as remaining narrow minded. In the short story “The Million Year Picnic”, a family goes to Mars to start a new life, leaving behind their current life at Earth. Through this family, Bradbury expresses his idea of the ideal method of pioneering. As the family chooses a city to stay in, they reject the second city because “It was an Earth man’s settlement” (117).
In the short story “Usher II”, Bradbury emphasizes the hypocrisy of the government during the costume ball hosted by the character Stendahl. Stendahl invites all members of the “society for the prevention of fantasy” (112). Although these people had outlawed imagination and fantasy, they dress up for Stendahl’s costume ball because of their own selfishness of wanting to have fun. Through this, Bradbury highlights the hypocrisy and double standards of the politicians. He criticizes how they create the laws and expect everyone to live by the laws, but they themselves proceed to break them. In the short story “Off Season”, Bradbury emphasizes the hypocrisy of people through the character Sam Parkhill. When “a silver hand gestured. A bronze tube appeared” (138), Parkhill immediately panics and murders the Martian with his gun. He believes that he is always correct and does not take the time to confirm his thoughts and instead immediately takes the action he deems fitting of the situation. Through this Bradbury criticizes the American conviction that Americans are always correct and foreigners are wrong. Americans are unwilling to admit that they are wrong and so through this Bradbury criticizes their