Of Machines and Men
The machines present in Bradbury’s novel are a likeness to the cycle of life. During the time of the story, older products were constantly being replaced by yet another new product – similar to the process of life and death. Like a machine, Douglas learns that he will not live forever. He realizes that machines can only last in our memories. Many characters in the novel attempt to thwart the inescapable fate of their machines, but not one succeeds. The bus replaces the trolley as the older characters pass away, the Green Machine leads to disaster, and at the same time Doug’s attempt to use the Tarot Witch leads to her being tossed in the ravine. Like a machine, our internal clockwork will eventually slow down, stop, and we will be forgotten with the passing of time.
As a bus replaces the old-fashioned trolley, some of the older characters pass away in a similar fashion. As Colonel Freeleigh comes to realize that his life ending, he tries desperately to hold......
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Approximate Word Count: 1016
Approximate Pages: 4 (260 words per double-spaced page) |