In Ray Bradbury’s dystopian short story, “Wondercopy”, the world reliance and abuse on technology is depicted in which synthetic robots are created to replace the human kind. Symbolism and irony are employed along with the unified tone to posit the theme of conflict between man and technology longing for freedom and man overstepping his role to emulate the creator. Symbolism is evident throughout the short story. The “Wondercopy” symbolizes the abuse and reliance society has on technology, creating the dystopian society in the story. The rise of technology leads to conflicts of the dehumanized world. This symbolization is also evident in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley where the creation of a monster exposes the danger that comes along with technology eventually leading to demise. The demise is death in both stories as the original Braling, the creator, dies and the monster as well as the creator die in Frankenstein. As stated by the copy, “ I’m afraid you don’t understand. I think- I love her.” This statement introduces the …show more content…
The dependence on technology is at an all-time high and even separates society, inevitably stirring up conflict within society. The irony is evident when Smith walks into his bedroom to find his wife, Nettie, to be a clone eliciting the tick-tick-tick noise. The husband was trying to create a clone of himself to escape from his over-loving wife, while the wife was also trying to escape him, without each other knowing. As well, Braling created a Braling two to escape from society and avoid conflict, yet it only elevated problems in which Braling two confessed his love for Braling’s wife and fulfilled the real Braling’s dream. The irony posits the theme of human reliance on technology along with the consequences on becoming too dependent on it, shaping the future of the world today into a dystopian
Section #6 - Irony In the novel Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury uses situational and dramatic irony in relation to the character of the Dust Witch. Firstly, situational irony is evident when the author says “Will pulled his bow back, freighted with single destruction. The bow broke in two pieces”. (Bradbury151)
Toward the beginning of Ray Bradbury’s, Something Wicked This Way Comes, William Halloway was often associated with dramatic irony to show his deficient understanding of the carnival’s operation but verbal irony to show that he was also suspicious of the carnival. Dramatic irony is evident when Will and Jim question the whereabouts of the lighting rod salesman, like when one of them said, “Storm never came. But he went.”(Bradbury70) then the other said, “Where? And why did he leave his bag?”(70), and finally, “What’s so important you forget everything?”(70).
In “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury, Jim Nightshade does have some verbal and dramatic irony associated with him. In the quotes, “You look familiar… Like an uncle of mine,” (Bradbury 85 & 86) “Darn Baptist preacher, you,” (30) and, “Storm’s coming. Don’t wait Jim boy,” (10) show how Jim uses irony and how others use irony to foreshadow the danger targeted at him. The author shows how Jim uses irony to lie to Mr. Cooger and crack jokes about how Will is and how Jim will be defenseless from the carnival. Bradbury does this because it shows the sentimental bond between Jim and Will, how Jim is deceitful, and also how Jim is inferior to the power of the carnival itself.
Many stories use vivid diction and stimulating imagery to bring their work to life. Ray Bradbury did this in his story of “The Veldt” as well as use figurative language in his passages. Not only does using these elements in a story help the story develop, Bradbury used them to foreshadow the ending of “The Veldt.” The use of imagery in “The Veldt” not only hints at what is in store for the parents, but also gives the setting a realistic touch.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a gothic novel that tells the story of scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his obsession with creating human life. This leads him to creating a gruesome monster made of body-parts stolen from grave yards, whom upon discovering his hideousness, the monster seeks revenge against his creator, causing Victor to regret the creation of his monster for the rest of his life. Shelley uses the literary elements of personification, imagery, and similes to give a vivid sense and visualization of Victor Frankenstein’s thoughts and feelings as well as to allow us to delve deeper into the monster’s actions and emotions. Throughout the novel, Shelley uses personification of various forces and objects to reflect the effect in Victor’s actions.
Transported into the future, Ray Bradbury paints a picture in the reader’s head of the Happy Life Home, filled with technology to fit everyday needs. A family, mom, dad, and two kids, start to slowly fall apart because of being surrounded with technology. In The Veldt, Bradbury uses multiple examples of author’s craft such as personification and tone or mood to help prove and point out a theme included in his story. His theme contained in the story is, influencing children with so much technology early on can not only stir up violent thoughts but, can also cause breaks between friend and family relationships. The first author’s craft that can prove this theme to be true is personification.
Bradbury uses verbal irony to convey the theme of rules and order as a form of control. The use of this irony is when Montag asks Mildred “When did we meet. And where?” then Mildred says that she doesn’t know and it doesn’t matter.
This replaces communication with others, because it provides modern convenience, superficial pleasure and censorship to any controversial concepts. The image Ray Bradbury displayesd of how technology can alienate human beings will remain in thought with technological advances taking place in the
Bradbury guides the reader to the conclusion that families fall apart when they spend too much time with technology and not enough time with each other. ‘The Veldt” is more applicable in today’s technology-driven world than when it was written in 1950. The reader hopefully learns that technology must be limited and not replace human interaction and hard work. If technology does everything for people, then people become unnecessary. Family roles should not be taken over by computers and robots.
Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Veldt” teaches readers that too much technology can have a bad effect on people. In the story, the Hadley family lives in a Happylife Home which has machines that do pretty much everything for them. The machines make their meals, brush their teeth and tie their shoelaces. There is even a nursery for the children that creates any world they could imagine. In the end of the story, the nursery and the family take a turn for the worse.
59% of people aged 18 to 29 say the internet is shaping who they are. “The Veldt” and “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury are two dystopian novels where technology has become a major factor in their life, destroying them by the day. “The veldt” is based in the future, where a family is given all the modern benefits of technology, claiming to make their lives easier and more efficient. For example, the kitchen makes dinner for all the family, allowing them to engage in other fun activities. However, with every good thing, comes bad.
Through symbolism, imagery, and the characterization of Leonard Mead, Bradbury highlights the danger technological advancement poses to a society’s individuality. Since the first introduction of Leonard Mead, Bradbury presents the audience with a cynical, almost bitter, protagonist. As he walks through empty streets, Mr. Mead asks the people in his society what they are watching, knowing he won’t get a response, but pauses when he thinks he hears a “murmur of laughter”, lonely for someone who had not been transformed into the same emotionless citizen technology has caused this society to contain. Mead is an outcast of his society, without a wife or “viewing screen” which rebels against his society because it is seen as unnatural.
Stephen King’s thrilling short story “Word Processor of the Gods” focuses on how technology can affect someone’s sanity. When given the chance to change their life, people take advantage of that and abuse it. Technology has taken over our lives and it could take our sanity if we let it. Some people are strong, but others are weak because they are full of envy. The dynamic character Richard was one of the weak ones because he was envious of his brother Roger.
Bradbury believes that technology is a benefactor when it comes to the aid of people’s lives. However, Bradbury is also wary of the unintentional hazards technological innovation may cause, and fears technology that seems to replace human responsibility. Bradbury sums up his doubts, stating that technology should never come at the expense of human life. These ideologies are displayed throughout the following short stories: “The Veldt,” “There Will Come Soft Rains,” and “A Sound of Thunder.” Each story contains the underlying theme that technology must be wielded with great care.