The Flying Machine - Ray Bradbury

Since their creation, humans have always had a natural inclination for invention, For instance, utilising stones, they created tools and weapons to increase their efficiency and survival chances. However, humans could have still survived without their inventions such as the wheel and the engine, albeit with a lower quality of life. In, “The Flying Machine,” by Ray Bradbury, new inventions are condemned because they could potentially be used in violence or crime. Emperor Yuan believes that if a civilization functions adequately, new inventions risk the safety of its people unnecessarily. Emperor Yuan only finds existing natural phenomena and ancient man-made creations miraculous and necessary. Initially, when his servant informs him of a miracle, he assumes that it is the sweet air. In the early morning, “A servant ran across... calling, ‘Oh Emperor, Emperor, a miracle!’ ‘Yes,’ said the Emperor, ‘the air is sweet this morning’” (Bradbury 1). Emperor Yuan believes that since his kingdom is running smoothly, no more miracles are needed. At the mention of miracles, he assumes it could only be a natural occurrence. Secondly, Emperor Yuan believes that the finest of all miracles is the repetition of ordinary daily occurrences and he cannot understand how the miracle his servant is speaking of could be something different. After his servant differs from his suggestion of the sweet air being the miracle, he says, “Let me guess – the sun has risen and a new day is upon us. Or the sea is blue. That now is the finest of all miracles” (1). He believes that if his kingdom is functional, it is perfect, and he religiously admires the stable repetition of the sea and sun. Finally, Emperor Yuan greatly admires the ancient Great Wall of China and appreciates its role in the protection and stability of his own kingdom. Looking at the Great Wall, he describes, “... now taking shape out of the farthest mist in the green hills, that splendid snake of stones which writhed with