Ray Bradbury 2
Despite Ray Bradbury's classification as a science fiction writer, much of his writing relates to the past and his feelings about it. Although he does criticize the society in which he lives in many books, Bradbury also shows a positive feeling for the world. It is not however the world of the future that he shows hope for, as many futuristic writers do. In many of his works he refers back to the time of his childhood in the 1920's, which he recalls as a peaceful and happy point in his life. In some books such as The Martian Chronicles and Dandelion Wine, he described peaceful mid-western 1920's towns such as the one he grew up in. In other books such as Something Wicked This Way Comes his main characters are young boys, whose experiences he most probably derives from memories of his own youth. Although the 1930's were a time of depression and trouble, Bradbury recalls his own childhood of the 1920's with fond memories and in his books tends to show a sentiment of wanting to return to that innocent past. "The quaint town houses stood in the silent heat of the sun, seeming to sag under they're own weight, yet giving the impression of buildings comfortable with themselves and the creaking harmony of the old town they were a
Bradbury's writings were not typical science fiction. The science section came as a by-product of the fiction, and was not the key element in any of his stories. What was present in most off them was the presence of imagery and references to his childhood and youth. Nostalgia for this innocent time of the past is evident in some works, while descriptions of how change had come were included in others. In Bradbury's writing there can be found not only a reflection of society at the time, but of all of the memories and lessons he learned from the past, and some of the hopes that he had for the future. part of." This is how Bradbury describes the houses present in a town of the 'future'. In The Martian Chronicles Bradbury also presents a society on Mars as having houses in this style. These houses are a direct image of the landscape Bradbury was around as a child in Illinois and Arizona. "The Midwest of his boyhood is a persistent image in his work: a small-town American utopia of the past with green lawns, shady streets, and friendly neighbors." Bradbury views the past as a perfect time, whereas the future was a scary place with the potential for many new evils. His portrayal of the future in both Fahrenheit 451 and such short stories as 'The Veldt' is apprehensive. In Fahrenheit 451 he worries about the taking away of personal freedoms that may be a part of the future. The future that is portrayed in this book is grim and controlled by the government, not at all a place of fantasy that one yearns to live in. For Bradbury this place of fantasy lies in the past. His descriptions of the past seem to be filled with nostalgia and perfection than cannot be found in his contemporary world. "The marble cream moon glimmered over the town sending scattered reflections as if over a mirror, of life...autumn leaves crackling and winter coming near, the air crisp with feelings..." . The imagery used by Bradbury to describe sights and sounds of the past can be seen in many of his works. "Middletown, dreamtown America, untouched by violence, pestilence, famine, world wars, prejudice; the idyllic small-town American boyhood, never far from nature; an American boyhood of sounds, tastes, sights, feelings of birth, life, death, seasons--this is Bradbury's touchstone for the largest portion of his imagery." During the restless times after World War II, Bradbury finds solace in thinking back to the times of his boyhood. Although part
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1652
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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