The pedestrian by ray bradbury 589 words The pedestrian by ray bradbury is a thought provoking short story that explores interesting themes of technology,isolation and conformity. Set in a future society where people are consumed by television, the story follows leonard meade a man who likes taking solitary nightly walks. Bradbury delves into themes and displays them with literary devices such as imagery, contrast and symbolism. Bradbury uses vivid imagery and word choice to depict this strange and unusual society where human interaction is seldom. “To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o'clock of a misty evening in November” in the first lines bradbury makes it very clear how weird this city is, for a city to be quiet at 8pm that is unheard of, a cold evening in november in every normal city is filled with happiness,christmas markets and festive joy; , however not leonard meade leonard meades city is far from normality. In the silence the reader understands the lifelessness of the city. “and it was not unequal to walking through a graveyard” the lack of human interaction in the urban municipality shows the run down of meades society and how no one is willing to appreciate their human world (like meade) and would rather live the cybernated world sold to them. People are not talking to each other anymore in this society, the small acts of kindness between neighbours and fellow townsmen is long gone. The city's people are preferring to sit idle, ignoring the world and nature around them, choosing to indulge in the fake plastic trees on their television screens. Bradbury uses symbolism to portray how the elite gentility of this city are keeping everyone in control trying to force those back into their boxes and conform. The police car represents conformity. As Leonard Mead walks alone at night, the car's presence highlights his rebellion against societal norms. The car's automated voice questioning his purpose exposes the dehumanisation of individuals in this world. The police car represents the oppressive control that suppresses individuality and freedom of expression. The police car is at the forefront of the tyranny and oppression that lies beneath the initial layer of the society, how the government suppresses Meades innate and rightful humanness. Bradbury's use of contrast between the abominable human spirit and the drear almost dystopian television is shown through the predictability of television; the predictability of television is contrasted with the unpredictability of human interaction. While television offers a consistent and controlled form of entertainment, it lacks the depth and spontaneity found in real-life interactions. Meades solitary walks highlight the monotonous nature of television, emphasising the need for genuine human connection. "What is it now?" he asked the house, noticing his wrist watch. "Eight-thirty P.M.? Time for a dozen assorted murders? A quiz? A review? A comedian falling off the stage?" Leonard Meade has been long conditioned to the predictability of television that he can guess the 4 most likely options for another night of blindly watching and consuming content. Leonard meades walks itself also contrast in the same sense of his walks are predictable like everyone and everything around him he is predictable In conclusion “the pedestrian” Ray Bradbury offers an insightful and frankly scary commentary on a technology obsessed society, one not too far off our own. Through its exploration of interesting themes such as isolation and conformity, it prompts readers to question their own relationship with technology and strive for more meaningful connections in an increasingly digital world.
