LLCF11

ASSIGNMENT 4
2020
SHORT STORY

Title: The Pedestrian

Author: Ray Bradbury

NAME: RACHNA LAL

ID: 20200450
TUTOR: MS SERA LOCKINGTON
GROUP: 5
1. Explain the relevance of the title to the story.

The title of the short story is “The Pedestrian” it is about an old man who was walking along the sidewalks
of the street at night. The relevance of the title to the story is that in the story the protagonist Mr. Leonard
Mead was walking along the sidewalks on a November night and observing his surrounding, he was looking
at all houses on the street which seems to him like a graveyard because it was so silent and dark.

The title “The Pedestrian” creates more emphasis on Mr. Leonard Mead who is the only pedestrian on the
street, that also tries to explain that the community in which Mr. Leonard Mead lives in is anti-social and
tends to stay indoors because of technology. As mentioned in the story

“In ten years of walking by night or day,

for thousands of miles, he had never met
another person walking, not
once in all that time.”

The above quotation states that Mr. Leonard Mead in ten years never saw anyone else on the street walking.
The title tries to relate to the situation in which Mr. Leonard Mead is situated which explains that in the
community no one appreciates nature and does not socialize.

The title is also relevant to the story because throughout the story Mr. Leonard Mead is the only pedestrian
on the street and the author has created an atmosphere in the story that walking along the street is a peculiar
behavior for other people in the community. That’s why the author has emphasized Mr. Leonard Mead as a
pedestrian because in the story the society views this behavior of Mr. Mead strange and unacceptable.
2. a. Where is the story set?

The story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury is set in the year 2053 which is in the near future. The story
takes place in an urban area, in an unnamed dystopian city in cold autumn early November night at eight
o’clock.

“To enter out into that silence that was the

city at eight o'clock of
a misty evening in November”

The above quote explains that the story takes place on an empty silent street where Mr. Leonard Mead was
walking. The story is set in a society where Mr. Leanord Maed feels isolated where people do not interact
with others and everyone is staying inside their houses surrounded by technology, where all lights are
switched off but only a flicker of lights are appearing from the houses. Mr. Leonard Mead mentions that the
street seems like a graveyard because everyone is silent its dark and there is no human interaction.

“During the day it was a thunderous surge of cars,

the gas stations open,...
But now these highways, too, were like streams in a dry season,
all stone and bed and moon radiance.”

The above quotation explains that Mr. Leonard Mead lives in a city that comes alive during the day time
everyone hustles and rush to go work. But as night falls everyone is inside their houses and it seems as if no
one lives in that city.

In the story, its mentioned that when Mr. Leonard closes his eyes he could feel that he is the only person
there and the houses are located thousands of miles away.

“windless Arizona desert”

The above quotation mentioned states that Mr. Leonard Mead relates his community as an Arizona desert
because he feels like it is a dead and lifeless place, where no one can be seen thousands of miles ahead and
he relates the dry river beds in the desert to the streets where he walks and states that it is his only company
in a technologized society where everyone isolates themselves.

The story takes place in a city where Mr. Mead is all alone by himself on the empty silent street.

“he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053,

or as good as alone”

The setting of the story “The Pedestrian” takes place in a society where everyone is enclosed in the digital
era with electronic gadgets around them, they remain indoors limiting their contact with the society and
staying inside to watch television throughout the night and not cherishing their natural environment or
socializing with others.

2. b. Is the setting an important part of the plot or theme?

The setting of a story is a vital component to illustrate the plot or a significant theme of the story because in
the environment the story takes place explains the behavior of the characters in the story. The setting is a
critical element in the story that creates an atmosphere for the readers to understand the situation in which
the characters are in that helps to relate to the message the author is depicting through the story. Certain
significant actions are more likely to take place in a specific environment, the atmosphere conveyed by the
setting helps to convey a vital aspect of the theme and plot of the story. The society in which the story is set
helps readers to understand the character's actions, behavior, and response. The setting also explains certain
actions taken by the characters.

3. a. Describe the main character in detail. What does he or she look like?
The protagonist Mr. Leonard Mead is an aged man who has a different perspective towards he’s living style
and does not surround himself with technology. Mr. Leonard Mead lives in an unnamed city in the year
2053. He likes to go for a walk and he is the only human who is seen on the silent empty street in the night.

“he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053,

or as good as alone”

The above quotation states that although Mr. Leonard Mead was alone while walking down the street, which
he dearly likes and enjoyed going for walks at night and freeing himself from technologies revolved world.
Mr. Leonard Mead's actions seem to be judged by the society as they accept passive actions, but Mr. Mead is
different from others he likes individualism, freedom and most importantly he likes to have an active living
where he would go out and enjoy the beauty of nature. Mr. Leonard Mead also wants to interact with the
people in his society but no has the time to free themselves with technology to have a person to person
interaction. In the story its mentioned that;

“In ten years of walking by night or day, for thousands of miles,

he had never met another person walking,
not once in all that time.”

The above quote mentioned states that Mr. Leonard Mead lives in a society where people are restrained
inside their houses. Mr. Mead wears sneakers so that the dogs do not start to brak at him which will make
the people come outside and criticize Mr. Leonard Mead for his peculiar behavior because he is the only
lone figure on the street. Mr. Leonard Mead lives in a digital society where everyone spends their time
watching television. On the other hand, Mr. Leonard is being aberrant, as he does not have a television in his
house and he prefers walking every night for fresh cold breeze instead of staying inside the house and using
an air conditioner for cold air.

The story mentions that Mr. Mead is a writer by profession,

“He hadn't written in years.

Magazines and books didn't sell anymore”

The above quote explains that Mr. Leonard Mead’s writing career has become outdated because people tend
to watch television over reading a book or magazines. Another detail given in the story is that Mr. Leonard
Mead is unmarried and says “Nobody wants me with a smile” although it's mentioned he is alone he is not
sad or feels lonely about that. He tends to have a different behavior then the others have in the society where
Mr. Leonard mead lives. He lights up all the lights in he’s house and keeps it bright, Mr Mead's house
outstands other houses in the street.

3. b. Do you like him or not? Give a reason for your answer.

I like the main character Mr. Leonard Mead because he is an extrovert, he has a different approach towards
he’s living style and he tends to live an active life without being surrounded by technology. I like the
character Mr. Leonard Mead because he likes to socialize and is not trapped inside he’s house watching
television like other people in he’s society are doing. I like the fact that he lives by himself although he is
not married he still happy and is not following the standards that are set by society to stay indoors and
surround ourselves with technology. He is being rebellious and is following his own individualism and
freedom, which to me is very encouraging because society has stated certain rules that must be obeyed by
everyone. In this digital world society has laid out certain expectations but Mr. Mead's character makes me
realize that we should do what feels right to us and not follow the societal expectations. And it's not
important to fulfill all the expectations of the society and that it's fine to have a different approach to certain
things.
4 .a. Discuss in one paragraph what the most important event in the story is.

To begin with, the most important event that took place in the story “The Pedestrian” was when Mr. Leonard
Mead was walking down the street and he was approached by a police car that stopped him

“A metallic voice called to him:

"Stand still. Stay where you are! Don't
move!"

The above quote states that a metallic voice from the police car calls to stop Mr. Mead, then the police ask
Mr. Mead about his whereabouts and what he was doing outside in the night when everyone else was inside
their houses. Mr. Leonead Mead replied that he was just walking for air. The police officer proceeded by
asking Mr. Leonead Mead a few more questions. He was asked about his address if he had an air conditioner
or not, and whether he had a viewing screen or not, if he’s married and how often does he go for walks. Mr.
Mead answered all the questions asked. The police officer also asked Mr. Mead about his profession to
which he replied a writer and the police officer stated that as no profession. Towards the end of the
interrogation, Mr. Mead was asked by the metallic voice from the car to get in, to that Mr. Mead protested
stating that he didn’t do anything wrong but yet he was asked to get inside the police car.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To the Psychiatric Center for Research
on Regressive Tendencies."

The above quote states that when Mr. Mead asked where he was taken the metallic voice replied that he was
taken to the “Psychiatric Center For Research On Regressive Tendencies”

4.b. Why is this event so important?

The above-stated event is so important because it highlights the message the author is trying to convey. In
the story, Mr. Leonard Mead lives in an era of technologized society where everything is operated by
technology in the story its mentioned that the police officer had a metallic voice this explains that the voice
is not of a real human instead it is a robotic voice and the car is controlled automatically. The stated event
holds an important message because it depicts how the atmosphere and reaction of the people will be in the
near future if someone is having a different behavior and is not living up with the standards that the society
pictures. In the event, Mr. Leonard Mead was just walking along the sidewalks at night and was questioned
by the police because to them Mr. Leonard Mead's actions was peculiar, no one in the city used to go for a
walk beside Mr. Mead because everyone else was inside their house watching television. The robotic police
officer also stated that Mr. Mead's writing profession was no such profession because during that time of the
year 2053 people have given up on literary works and are only having access to visual entertainment like
television that’s why Mr. Mead’s profession was stated as no profession. Mr. Leonard Mead’s behavior
seemed so peculiar to the robotic police officer that he took Mr. Leonard to the Psychiatric Center For
Research On Regressive Tendencies. This explains that the society has evolved so some and have indulged
themselves in technology that they have completely changed their attitude towards having natural
connections, like going out on a walk and talking to other family members. This particular event holds a
vital message that society expects that everyone accepts the digital revolution and if anyone restricts to
follow those changes they are considered to a psychiatric center as their attitude is abnormal to the society.

5. who is the narrator or the speaker in the story?

The narrator of the story is Ray Bradbury and it is a third-person narration.

6. Conflict or tension is usually the heart of the short story. How would you describe the main conflict?

The main conflict expressed in the short story “The Pedestrian” is the conflict between Mr. Leonard Mead
versus society and technology. Throughout the story, the author portrays a message about society's aspected
standards that should be followed by everyone and the invasion of the technologies. In the story the
protagonist Mr. Mead is living a different lifestyle then the citizens around him are living. He likes to live an
active life, going for a walk and not being dependent on technology as mentioned in the story that he also
does not have a television (viewing screen) and Mr. Leonard Mead wants to interact with people and
naturally communicate with them without using technologies such as a smartphone to do video chats and
calls. But on the other hand, the society does not accept Mr. Mead behavior instead he’s behavior seems so
strange to the antagonist the robotic police officer that he stops Mr. Mead from walking along the sidewalks
and takes him to a psychiatric center for his mental treatment because the robotic police officer thinks that
Mr. Mead attitude is not acceptable in the society as there is no one on the street walking. Society accepts
passivity and expects everyone to stay inside their houses and watch television and if someone goes out for a
walk they are considered eccentric. The message portrayed by the story can be related to the real-life, we can
experience that technology is taking over our lives and we are surrounded by it, every single thing we do is
operated by technology because it makes our work easy, this revolution of technology is making people lazy
and they are also not having a real person to person interaction that they isolating themselves from others.
Moreover, in the story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury develops a conflict between Mr. Mead’s needs for
activity and the societies command for passivity. Actions such as walking, having freedom, and having
individualism is not what the society accepts, and if someone tends to follow their preference they are
considered to have a mental illness because he fails to conform to societal expectations.

7. a. What is the major theme of the story?

The major theme of the story portrayed by the author is isolation due to technology invasion. When the
readers read the story “The Pedestrian” it can be identified that the author's main focus was to elaborate
about isolation felt by the protagonist because of technology which is taking over people's lives. In the story,
it is mentioned that Mr. Leonard Mead is alone.

“he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053”

The above quotation explains that in the near future people would be glued to technology and will not have
any person to person interaction, that’s why in the story Mr. Leonard Mead feels alone because he does not
have anyone to talk too. In the story, it's also mentioned that Mr. Leonard Mead states,

"Nobody wanted me," said Leonard Mead with a smile”.

The above quotation is the best depiction of the theme as it portrays that Mr. Leonard Mead feels neglected
by his society because everyone is choosing the technology and they are revolving their life around it, that’s
why they don’t have time to spear to have a real conversation or even to go out for a walk for fresh air. The
story also states that Mr. Leonard Mead hasn’t seen anyone on the streets in the past ten years, it explains
that people are becoming lazy due to technology and are choosing to stay indoors and acquire the artificial
environment which is provided by technology instead of going outside to admire the natural environment.

The author Ray Bradbury makes isolation and lack of real communication one of the important issue that is
being expressed to the readers.

"Hello, in there," he whispered to every house on every side as he moved.

"What's up tonight on Channel 4, Channel 7, Channel 9?
Where are the cowboys rushing, and do I see the
United States Cavalry over the next hill to the rescue?"

The above quotation conveys that Mr. Leonard Mead feels isolated from his technologized society that he
starts to talk to himself. He tries to communicate with the residents who are inside watching television, he
was asking them about what each channel was playing. Although Mr. Mead knows that he won’t get a reply
because everyone is glued to the screens of the television.

The story also states how technology is taking over people’s lives daily.

“The tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people

sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights
touching their faces, but never really touching them.”

The above quotation depicts that the author is trying to convey the message that the people are surrounded
by technology. In the story, the author portrays that technology has become an important part of the society
that they isolating themselves from others. In the story, it's stated that “people sat like the dead” this
portrays that people just stare at the screens without any emotions. “the gray or multicolored lights touching
their faces, but never really touching them.” this sentence depicts that people are just setting in front of the
television without any feelings or emotions just lifeless, they even don’t socialize with their family
members.

7. b. How is the theme expressed by the author?

The author Ray Bradbury expresses the main theme of the story by illustrating the emotions felt by the main
character by using words such as “alone”. The author also uses descriptive words to describe the
protagonist's surrounding to portray the atmosphere in which the story is set like “silent streets”, “walking
through a graveyard”, “silent and dark” and “tomblike houses”, those words are used so that the readers
would imagine the environment in which the protagonist Mr. Leonard Mead is situated in that explains the
main message or theme the author is trying to convey.
8. Did you like or dislike the story? Give reasons for your answer.

I like the story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury as it portrays a significant message that is happening in
real life. The author Ray Bradbury published the story in the year 1951 and he wrote the story that took
place 102 years after imagining how the society will be like in the era of technology. I liked the story
because it resonates with my community everything stated in the story is happening in real life where
dehumanization is occuring. Technology is invading our lives and people also experience being isolated by
others in society. Mostly the elderly in our society are the most vulnerable to the effect of technology as they
are not used to a digital era and tend to be isolated.

In the story, it is stated that "Eight-thirty P.M.? Time for a dozen assorted murders? A quiz? A revue? A
comedian falling off the stage?", the stated statement is related in real life which is happening nowadays as
well. People have become like a robotically timed machine that do things at a certain time, as mentioned in
the quotation people during at a certain time are all inside their houses watching their favorite television
shows and at the same time, dozens of robberies and murders also occur because the thieves have a fair idea
that everyone is inside their houses and they won’t come out so the crime rate increases.

Another reason why I liked the story was that it portrayed how someone feels when they don’t fit in a
particular environment. I like the fact that the story is trying to convey that we should follow our
individualism and freedom to live our own life without being controlled by technology or society. I can
relate with the message that the author Ray Bradbury is trying to convey and is trying to make people aware
that in the near future people would be stuck to the technology because no job would be completed without
it, this could make people lazy and prevent them to carry out normal daily activities such as going for a walk
or even taking out time to talk to their family members. people are becoming self-centered and are revolving
their life around technology without even realizing that they are losing their connections with the family
members, friends or even losing connection with the real natural world and are moving towards the artificial
world created by technology.