Preview

The Pedestrian Ray Bradbury Summary

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
346 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Pedestrian Ray Bradbury Summary
In “The Pedestrian” Ray Bradbury explores the idea that man’s reliance on technology, especially television, will lead to a future where he punishes individuals who dare to be nonconformists. This theme is revealed through the title of the story, the central conflict, and the outcome of this conflict. First, the title “The Pedestrian” is defined as an individual who is walking along a road. This title is a direct reference to the protagonist of the story, Leonard Mead, as he is the pedestrian that enjoys walking around at night. Second, the central conflict is Mead versus society, because most everyone relies on their television for entertainment, while Mead finds comfort in walking at night. In the ten years that he has been nightly walks,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Once technology was introduced to society, it started to slowly brainwash us into our modern day society. Ray Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian” is an example of this, In this short story we read about a society taken over and brainwashed by technology. Mr. Leonard Mead is the only human not brainwashed by TV, “sometimes he would walk for hours..” Every night Mr.Mead goes out for walks and never sees other humans.…

    • 164 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Television takes a prominent role in the script of everyday life. Additionally, it takes an even larger role in the lives of the citizens of Bradbury’s metropolis. Actually, it is more of a brain cell cemetery. For example, Mildred, the main character’s (Montag’s) wife, is constantly bombarded with television and radio programs. In fact, three walls in the parlor of the couple’s home have been converted into giant television screens! For Mildred, however, this is not good enough. She whines that having a fourth wall installed would make her happy, and that she couldn’t possibly be happy without it. Her argument is that the installation would only be $2,000 and that in order to earn this money they could just “do without a few things”. This could be considered addictive, taking into account that she is willing to give up part of the way that she lives in order to further intoxicate her mind and make her even number to the world around her. And as a result of this constant flow of trivial nonsense into her system, she is made to feel as though she is thinking for herself, acting for herself, and having a wonderful time.…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In addition to the inability to accept other cultures and racism, another consequence of human hubris is a detrimental superiority complex that prevents humans from getting to the things that they want or need because of the belief that they are too good. That dangerous superiority complex can be seen in the short story “Silent Towns” in which Walter Gripp, the main character of the short story, finds himself alone in his town on Mars. At first, he relishes in his newfound independence and the lack of rules but eventually, he begins to yearn for human company. One day, Gripp receives a phone call that he misses and as a result, he dials almost every number until a woman picks up. Introducing herself as Genevieve Selsor, Walter begins to fantasize…

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Journeys allow us to encounter transitions from place to place whether it is physical, mental or emotional. Comparative texts cast light on one another; likewise through examining the journeys that protagonists undertake within texts, our understanding of journeys as responders are also furthered. Sean Penn’s 2007 film Into the Wild (ITW) and George Orwell’s 1948 novel 1984, albeit different in terms of form and expression, both explore the concept of Journey. Orwell uses dystopian expressions to capture the tribulation of Journey through Winston Smith, whereas Penn through his pragmatic film techniques presents Christopher McCandless. Both texts present a physical and mentally engaging journey where widely accepted societal norms deviate from the characters’ inner beliefs & values. The milieus of both texts play a significant role in expressing the journey, as seen in ITW’s 90s backdrop of a rapidly growing American consumerist driven society. Conversely Orwell demonstrates the political fears of the 40s…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tip-Cast

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There are multiple ways of perceiving the poem and the tensions between man and technology it presents. One viewpoint, as expressed by Judith Kitchen in her book “Writing the World: Understanding William Stafford“, suggests that the poem by Stafford, “Traveling Through the Dark” demonstrates “the encroachment of mechanized society on the wilderness” (Kitchen). For Kitchen, this poem deceptively simple and straightforward title of the poem by William Stafford, “Travelling Through the Dark” and its conversational style belie an incredibly deep sense of pain and guilt that the narrator suffers through. By examining the way the poem uses language to express these emotions, particularly by looking at the way certain objects take on a life (the car, for instance, which itself “aims” and swerves” as though it is the embodiment of man and technology) Kitchen expresses how the poem by Stafford “Traveling Through the Dark” hides a complex message about man and nature behind deceptively simple phrasing, syntax, and tone. She points out ways in which some very simple word choices in the poem by William Stafford, “Traveling Through the Dark” take on monumental importance, stating, for example, that when the poet refers to the “group” witnessing this event, “The group appears to be the man, the deer, the unborn fawn, and by extension, all of nature” (Kitchen). In short, Judith Kitchen assists the casual reader of this poem…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Americans have become accustomed to a society where consumerism, technology, and the ambition of possessing material goods have become the basis of living. American writers and visionaries such as Henry David Thoreau, Chris McCandless, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and other poets have challenged this occurrence by taking it to the next level and, by doing so; have thrown light upon this endemic. Thoreau arguments this by isolating himself from society in Massachusetts near Walden Pond and writes his own work Walden which exists as his own declaration of independence, where he conducts a personal social experiment and lives alone for two years. Chris McCandless, a visionary who wants to get away from ordinary life, travels two years to Alaska with no money, food, or transportation after his car dies. Emerson writes the essays Self Reliance and Nature regarding the understanding of life through avoiding conformity and self-consistency. All authors contend with the idea of society as it is to the point of isolation, even to the point of death in McCandless’s case. Thus, Thoreau’s beliefs about life, conveyed in his work Walden, do consist of merit regarding one’s over involvement in technology and pose the theory of ultimate simplicity, but a line should be drawn in the over-simplicity of one’s life, proven in the movie Into the Wild with the unfortunate ending of Chris McCandless.…

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    His imagery is what captivates the readers as well as allows them to experience the world for themselves. In The Pedestrian, there is one character throughout most of the story until the end when an officer comes in. To make sure the story has interest from the reader he use descriptive language to experience the sadness and loneliness that Leonard Mead experiences. The chilling, and seemingly real descriptions include, “To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o'clock of a misty evening in November, to put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your way, hands in pockets, through silences." ("The Pedestrian") and, "He put his hand to the door and peered into the back seat, which was a little cell, a little black jail with bars. It smelled of riveted steel. It smelled of harsh antiseptic; it smelled clean and hard and metallic." ("The Pedestrian"). This use allows to take a peek into the brain of Leonard Mead and how he feels about the world as well as how to the world views him. Another major use of imagery is in The Veldt. The main plot point was the nursery and its ability to transform o places. He wants us to see what George and Lydia see when they discover the horror that is the veldt. To capture the terrifying presence of the lion he used this line, “You could feel the prickling fur on your hand, and your mouth was stuffed with the dusty…

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In both Nazi Germany and the futuristic society in Bradbury’s short story, there are individuals who conformed and those who don’t conform. In America the first amendment was passed to protect our freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Everyone is born with a voice, that could change the world for better or worse. “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth”- John F. kennedy. People who conform are usually thralled. They’re manipulated into thinking how a nonconformist leader wants them to think. Fear leads to silence and silence leads to deaths. “The world isn’t destroyed by those doing evil but those who watch them without doing anything.” -Albert Einstein. Nonconformist are people who speaks up for the rights they were born with, speaking up for what they believe in.…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury expresses the negative impact of technology in "The Pedestrian" through the use of the empty police car. Leonard Mead is on his nightly walk and is approached by an empty police car, he is questioned about his walking and if he has reason to do it. After he tries to explain his reasoning for walking the police car orders him to get in, and informs him that he is going to be taken to a psychiatric ward.…

    • 1015 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Technology is a common motif in the dystopian/science fiction genre. From mental handicap radios in the short story Harrison Bergeron, by Kurt Vonnegut in the mid 20th century to neurological implants in the modern bestseller Feed, by M.T. Anderson, they are a vital key to the identity of this genre. In novels such as these there usually is a negative connotation to technology. However, Ray Bradbury adds a unique twist to this by adding in natural imagery to describe this futuristic technology in his famous novel, Fahrenheit 451. [He critiques an emotionally dead society overruled by technology.] In the dystopian society of Fahrenheit, the protagonist…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In “The Pedestrian” the protagonist Leonard Mead enjoys going for walks, while everyone else is occupied with their technology. “In the ten years of walking by night or day, for thousands of miles, [Leonard] had never met another person walking, not one in all that time.” Nobody feels the need to leave their house. Leonard was stopped by a police car, and was taken to “The Psychiatric Centre for Research on Regressive Tendencies” because it had become so odd to see someone outside their house.…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Pedestrian

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This is a society which (it is implied) is kept docile and uninformed by a diet of poor quality TV programmes (which, we assume from the Police Car’s incredulity when Mead explains that he has no TV, are controlled by the State). The minds of the population have been dulled by the TV they are incessantly and acceptingly fed. Only Mead can see through the banality and predictability of the programmes:…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    discovery essay

    • 709 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Journeys function as a catalyst for discovery and consequently shape our experiences, challenging our perceptions of the world around us. They have the opportunity to completely change our perception of both the individual and surrounding environment. Gray’s poem ‘Journey: The North Coast’ uses the persona’s physical journey on a train as a framework to highlight how discoveries help change our perception of the world. Gray argues that city life can have a detrimental impact on our emotional state, due to its focus on materialism and commercialization. The persona feels that city life confines people and results in a feeling of claustrophobia. This concept is depicted through the metaphorical nature of the statement “everything done, press down the latches into the case”, “everything done…” portrays the finality of the moment that the persona is experience. The case is a symbol of the restrictive conformity of City life. By shutting the latches, it outlines how the persona is ready to move on and settle down. The poet highlights the persona’s dismissive attitude of the relevance of materialism and city life. Gray illustrates that self-discovery transforms personal experience and our understanding of the world. New journeys have the ability to challenge and…

    • 709 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ray Bradbury, well-known American author, playwright, and poet, created his success on no more than his high school diploma. He did, however, learn many valuable lessons in life which he incorporates in his works. Ray Bradbury uses figurative language such as irony, personification, and imagery to artistically present his vision of life’s morals.…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What Is Literature?

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages

    As time evolves, so does our definition of literature. The classification from novels, poetry, short stories, journals, increases to new platforms. It’s midday in Kansas City, MO. 60 degrees and the sky is overcast. The towering buildings overlook the shaded streets and the vibrant colors of the parked cars contrast the dirty gray streets, cluttered with trash. Walking down the sidewalk, you glance over your right shoulder and you see an old abandoned warehouse.…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays