The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury - Analysis and Themes
The story follows Mr. Leonard Mead, who loves walking the city streets at night in a totalitarian society set in 2053. He encounters a police car that stops him, leading to themes of dehumanization through technology, the impact of television, and loneliness. Through detailed textual analysis, the story explores language features such as similes, metaphors, and word choice, highlighting the contrast between societal isolation and individual desire for connection.
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+ THE PEDESTRIAN by Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury
+Overview Main Character: Mr. Leonard Mead he loves to walk the city streets at night. Setting: Night time, city streets. The year is 2053. Totalitarian society; a restrictive society; a society in terminal decline. Plot: Mr. Mead goes for a walk at night. There is no one on the streets. He passes many houses all of which have televisions on. He whispers to these houses as he passes. A police car (human free) stops him, interrogates him and takes him away. Themes: * dehumanisation of society through over-dependence on technology * the impact of television * loneliness
+Themes * dehumanisation of society through over-dependence on technology * the impact of television * loneliness * Decline of society
+Textual Analysis On the large sheets Discuss, as a group, the features of language that you can find in your section of story and highlight them on the sheet. Add some comments about what you have found.
+Textual Analysis You should be looking for examples of: Simile Metaphor Alliteration Onomatopoeia Word choice Interesting adjectives Repetition Any other interesting features
+Setting 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 the silences, that was what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do. Explanation: This opening sentence creates a desolate setting that is in stark contrast to the passionate Mr. Mead. He is walking alone on a misty evening. The word misty is appropriate for a setting that seems unclear not only to the reader but also to Mr. Mead, himself. We do not understand why no other people are on the street, and judging from his constant desire for communication, Mr. Mead also does not understand why people are choosing to remain quietly in their homes. The concrete that is buckling indicates its lack of use and the people s lack of desire to leave their homes and visit with others. This could also be a physical representation, or symbol, that the society is not supporting anyone s individual needs. The repetition of silence, emphasizing the people s lack of communication with one another, is strongly contrasted with Mr. Mead s dearly loved habit of walking the streets. Bradbury s sensory details contrast the setting of a society that is accustomed to isolation and an individual s passionate desire to have a personal connection with anyone.
+ The Character of Mr. Mead The Character of Mr. Mead Question Choose a novel or short story in which the author creates a fascinating character. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how this author has created this character and why you found him so fascinating.
+Write the introductory paragraph The character of Leonard Mead from Ray Bradbury s The Pedestrian is a fascinating character. He is the lone human who enjoys walking the streets of his town at night whilst the rest of society remain indoors being indoctrinated by the propaganda broadcast on their viewing screens. He is the symbol of humanity in a society governed by technology who enjoys the simple pleasures offered by nature.
Begin your paragraph by stating your point. This introduces the paragraph and tells the reader what you will be discussing. e.g. One interesting aspect of this character is his closeness to nature.
This is when you give an example of the technique by using a quotation. e.g. Man is often shown as truly human when surrounded by nature and this is equally true of Mr. Mead, who dearly loved to walk. At one instance his shadow is described the shadow of a hawk.
Once you have quoted you must explain how the technique is working in the poem. What is the writer doing here? What effect is he creating? e.g. This simile likens Mr. Mead to a wild and free-spirited bird, unrestricted in his thinking or actions. This is in contrast to the rest of society who remain indoors, their thoughts directed by the messages flashed on their viewing screens.
Now you need to respond to the use of the technique. e.g. By describing him in these terms Bradbury highlights how different this character is in this technology driven world. He will not be dictated to by the new society rules. Instead like the Hawk he enjoys the feel of the fresh air, the sound of the autumn leaves and the rusty smell of the outside. Simple human pleasures.
Every main body paragraph that you write must follow this model. One interesting aspect of this character is his closeness to nature. Man is often shown as truly human when surrounded by nature and this is equally true of Mr. Mead, who dearly loved to walk. At one instance his shadow is described as the shadow of a hawk. This simile likens Mr. Mead to a wild and free-spirited bird, unrestricted in his thinking or actions. This is in contrast to the rest of society who remain indoors, their thoughts directed by the messages flashed on their viewing screens . By describing him in these terms Bradbury highlights how different this character is in this technology driven world. He will not be dictated to by the new society rules. Instead like the hawk he enjoys the feel of the fresh air, the sound of the autumn leaves and the rusty smell of the outside. Simple human pleasures but dangerous in a world where these are viewed as regressive tendencies.
