RAY DOUGLAS BRADBURY

He was an American novelist, short-story writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and poet. Although the genre of many of Ray Bradbury’s stories is fiction, he rejected being categorized as a science fiction author, claiming that the only story he has ever written that is a science fiction story is Fahrenheit 451.

BIOGRAPHY

Ray Douglas Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois. He enjoyed a relatively idyllic childhood in Waukegan, which he later incorporated into several semi-autobiographical novels and short stories. Bradbury's life revolved around magic, magicians, circuses, and other such fantasies.

He decided to become a writer at about age 12 or 13. He later said that he made this decision to "live forever" through his fiction. His first official pay as a writer came for contributing a joke to George Burns's Burns & Allen Show. In 1937, he became a member of the Los Angeles Science Fiction League, whose help enabled him to publish four issues of his own science-fiction fan magazine, or "fanzine," Futuria Fantasia.

He graduated from a Los Angeles high school in 1938. His formal education ended there because they had no money to send him to college due to the Depression. However, he became a "student of life," selling newspapers on L.A. street corners from 1938 to 1942. He published his first short story in a fan magazine in 1938.

Bradbury says that he learned to write by recalling his own experiences. Many of his early stories are based, unsurprisingly, on his childhood experiences in Illinois. For example, "Homecoming" (Mademoiselle, 1946) was inspired by his relatives' marvelous Halloween parties, and "Uncle Einar" (Dark Carnival, 1947), a story about a man with green wings, is based loosely on one of Bradbury's uncles.

Ray was married to Marguerite McClure from 1947 until her death. They had four daughters: Susan, Ramona, Bettina and Alexandra.

He wrote numerous screenplays and treatments, including Moby Dick (1956). In 1986, Bradbury developed his own HBO television series, allowing him to produce adaptations of his short stories. The series ran until 1992. Also, sixty five of Ray’s stories were adapted to television in the Ray Bradbury’s theatre.

Ray Bradbury died in Los Angeles on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Cold War

The Cold War is the name given to the relationship that developed primarily between the USA and the USSR after World War Two. The Cold War was to dominate international affairs for decades and many major crises occurred - the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Hungary and the Berlin Wall being just some. For many, the growth in weapons of mass destruction was the most worrying issue.

A clash of very different beliefs and ideology - capitalism versus communism - each held with almost religious conviction, formed the basis of an international power struggle with both sides vying for dominance, exploiting every opportunity for expansion anywhere in the world.

McCarthyism

The Cold War era in the 1940s and 1950s was perhaps the most repressive time in American history with regard to civil liberties. In an aggressive effort to uncover espionage and subversion and fight the perceived threat of global communism, the U.S. government initiated a variety of programs which led to a climate of fear.

At the heart of the repressive atmosphere was the anti-communist House Un-American Activities Committee (1945-1975) led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. An investigatory committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, HUAC was formed to investigate threats of subversion or propaganda that attacked “the form of government guaranteed by our constitution.” It came into its own investigating suspicions that people with Communist ties or sympathies worked for the federal government. Loyalty oaths evolved as a key tool to test Communist affiliations. During both the Truman and Eisenhower administrations, through a number of Presidential Executive Orders, the government conducted loyalty investigations of federal government employees. The loyalty program stifled meaningful debate and discouraged many Americans from thinking, reading, or acting in any way that was outside the norm.

The McCarran Act required registration by Communist Party members and prevented them from traveling abroad. HUAC aggressively investigated private individuals whom it felt “either openly associate and assist disloyal groups or covertly operate as members or fellow travelers of such organizations.” For several years a wide variety of people were subjected to cruel public interrogations, including Hollywood celebrities and Army officials. As McCarthy became increasingly abusive in his threats and investigations, however, the tide of public opinion turned against him, and the hysteria of the era finally subsided in 1954 after broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow aired a highly critical documentary questioning McCarthy’s methods.

LITERARY CAREER AND MAJOR WORKS

Bradbury sold his first professional piece, the story "Pendulum," in November 1941, just a month before the United States entered World War II, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Ruled ineligible for military service by his local draft board because of his vision problems, Bradbury became a full-time writer by early 1943. His first collection of short stories, Dark Carnival, was published in 1947.

In 1947, after Dark Carnival, Bradbury turned to another kind of writing — philosophical science fiction. One work in particular, The Martian Chronicles (1950) reflects some of the prevailing anxieties of America in the early atomic age of the 1950's: the fear of nuclear war, the longing for a simpler life, reactions against racism and censorship, and the fear of foreign political powers.

The Martian Chronicles

The Martian Chronicles is a history of the settlement of Mars by Earthians. The first three expeditions fail, and all of their crews are killed by the native Martians; by the fourth expedition, most all the Martians have succumbed to Earthian chickenpox and were killed. Despite the actions of a crewmember of this expedition who was sympathetic to Martian culture, a foothold on the planet was established and colonization began.

This colonization was exclusively by the United States of America, as other nations were tied up in international struggles. There were some Martians left on Mars, who interacted sporadically with Earthian settlers. On the eve before a hundred thousand Chinese and Mexican settlers were to arrive, the Great War began on Earth. Instead of a sizeable increase in Earthian colonizers to Mars, there was a return by colonizers back to Earth until the planet was left almost entirely uninhabited. Twenty years after the Great War and at the brink of human civilization's final collapse, some Earthians escaped their home planet to start over in Mars.

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel set in an American society where reading is banned and books, considered contraband items, are set alight and burned by the fire service. The title of the novel refers to the auto ignition point of book paper. Having received a positive reception on release, it slowly grew into a classic of its genre. The novel was significant as social commentary on the ever increasing importance placed on technology, as well on the effects of television and other mass media on literature. In fact, so passionate about this cause was Bradbury that for a long period he refused to have his work published in an electronic format.

A sound of thunder and other stories

This collection showcases thirty-two of Bradbury's most famous tales in which he lays bare the depths of the human soul. Within this collection we find the short story “Embroidery.”

Embroidery

The plot of "Embroidery" follows three women (who themselves are not described) as they attempt to sew back in the world that surrounds them before it ends in an apocalyptic manner. The story is set in America, though no real description of the location is given within the story it appears to be an isolated house surrounded by fields and meadows as is the scene in one of the women's pieces of work. Despite the extreme shortness, time makes a constant appearance within the story as the women count down to 5 o'clock, at which time an experiment will occur, the results of which are unknown to the women. The constant reference of time is used to build up a climactic effect, creating a sense of tension as the women await their fate.

Bradbury's story, like many others he has written, points to the flaw in humanity that it is blind to its best interests and in its selfishness it turns technology to destructive, rather than creative and imaginative ends. Thus, it is in constant danger of self-destruction.

HONOURS

He was awarded the O. Henry Memorial Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award in 1954, the Aviation-Space Writer's Association Award for best space article in an American Magazine in 1967, the World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement, and the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America.

LITERARY GENRES

Fantasy

Fantasy fiction is a genre of writing in which the plot could not happen in real life (as we know it, at least). Often, the plot involves magic or witchcraft and takes place on another planet or in another — undiscovered — dimension of this world. Most often the overall theme of the setting is medieval in tone, meaning that some combination of the architecture, clothing, language, and technology resembles the European Middle Ages. Many times, the plot also involves mythical creatures or talking animals (that might wear clothes and live in houses), and witches or sorcerers.

Characterization

• Characters can have special powers. • Animals act like people (animorphisism).

Setting

• Place is imaginary or of another world or universe. • Time is anytime or no time. • Fantasy time (Once upon a time sets the stage and They lived happily ever after closes the tale.) any time or any place, timeless or placeless, or long long ago. • Time travel is possible.

Plot

• Varied, but usually suprising twists or developments. • Involving situations not possible in our realistic world. • Full of action and follows specific and simple patterns. • The plot starts right out with fast moving action that grabs the listener’s interest and keeps it. • Conflicts are usually resolved with great deeds or acts of human kindness related to good and bad/evil.
Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction in which the stories often tell about science and technology of the future. It is important to note that science fiction has a relationship with the principles of science – these stories involve partially true-partially fictitious laws or theories of science. It should not be completely unbelievable, because it then ventures into the genre fantasy.

The plot creates situations different from those of both the present day and the known past. Science fiction texts also include a human element, explaining what effect new discoveries, happenings and scientific developments will have on us in the future.

Science fiction texts are often set in the future, in space, on a different world, or in a different universe or dimension.

Bradbury’s science-fiction settings are backgrounds for characters with social, religious, and moral dilemmas. Bradbury believes that science fiction’s value lies in helping human beings to visualize and solve future problems before they actually occur but, at the same time, he has a deep suspicion of the machine and a great faith in the human heart’s capacity to perceive, do good, and create beauty.

WRITING STYLE

Ray Bradbury is well-known for his incredibly descriptive style. He employs figurative language (mostly similes, metaphors, and personification) symbolism.

Bradbury's use of metaphors - which, according to him, are a method used for comprehending one reality and expressing it in terms of another - is a vital part of his literary style. He uses metaphors to permit the reader to view what the author is saying.

Bradbury's writings in general can be described as a metaphor of generalized nostalgia; that is, he writes not merely for the past but also for the future. He also uses rhythm and repetition

His literary style can best be described as "enchantment;" the way he captivates his readers with charm, bewitchment, and stunning verbal evocations. His visions of the past, future, and the present delight his readers. His books are virtually long-time bestsellers and have been translated into over twenty languages.

Use of imagery: The focus on death is threaded throughout Bradbury's writings, and alongside death is Bradbury's deep interest in the themes of deceit, dissatisfaction with the self, the reality of evil and how to contend with it, and the attainment of self-knowledge. As one may expect, these concepts are embodied in traditional images: ravine imagery, mirror imagery, water imagery, carnival imagery, sun and fire imagery, and the opposition of light and dark, good and evil.

Frequently, Bradbury also uses imagery associated with masks. Masks, of course, are often associated with deceit, deception, and games. To put on a mask is to be able to mimic, but if we put on a mask, we permit ourselves to disguise our feelings. Therefore, in Bradbury's works, a mask is always an attractive but a dangerous element.

Bradbury uses water imagery in the traditional sense — that is, to suggest the life source itself and the transition of the life cycle from one phase to another. Water imagery also depicts the theme of rebirth, regeneration, and purification, which

Bradbury's carnival imagery is a vivid device that he often uses to effectively focus on the presence of evil as a real force in the world.

Literary elements

Irony: Ray Bradbury uses a lot of irony in his stories. For instance in “Fahrenheit 451” Guy Montag’s job is to burn books but he ends up collecting them. Another time he uses irony is when in “The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind”, the daughter is smarter than her father when it is normally the other way around.

Symbols: There are many symbolic elements in “Fahrenheit 451” alone. For instance fire represents death and destruction while a car represents life moving by too fast.

Conflicts: There are many conflicts in Ray Bradbury’s stories but most of them are conflicts with themselves. For instance, Montag’s problem was that he was being ripped apart with guilt from taking books. In “Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed” Harry Bittering was afraid that they were going to change and he therefore grew paranoid.

Lessons learned: There is often a lesson learned at the end of all of Ray Bradbury’s stories. They can be obvious like in “The Golden Kite, “The Silver Wind”, or they could be more subtle like in “Dark They Were and “Golden Eyed.”

Themes

• Individual versus machinery: People have the power to create devices that can destroy themselves, but they have no performed any measure to stop this form happening. There are so many people that put too much faith in the machines the create

• Death and fear: Though Bradbury uses this as a theme to show death does not have to be fearful and that you can conquer many fears. Through this theme comes self-belief and loneliness

• Many of the stories feature the overt theme that technological advances are dangerous. In many stories, the technological advances allow humans to explore alien and subtly hostile environments without simultaneously providing the explorers with adequate defenses.

• Nature versus science.

• Search for identity and self

• Struggle of good vs. evil

• First contact with alien species

• Love, nostalgia and hope

• Censorship and conformity

• The power of the past, the freedom of the present, and the temptations and traps of the future.

Characters

The main characters slowly undergo change until they realize what they did wrong or that something isn’t so bad after all. In "Fahrenheit 451" Montag, the protagonist is unsure about the world around him. The same thing happens in “Dark they Were and Golden Eyed”.

Characters are earnest in their quest for a way in which they can effectively deal with the problem of evil. They are hungry to know who they are and how they can achieve their full potential, and yet, simultaneously, these same brave human beings are terribly afraid of growing old and dying.

Bradbury believes that human beings are composed of time, and in many of his science-fiction stories, a frequent theme is the dialectic between the past and the future.

His characters are changed by their experiences, particularly when they encounter great evil beneath the surface of seemingly normal life, but in other stories Bradbury gives the reader a window through which to see the positive meaning of life (these stories, usually sentimental, are life-affirming, permitting readers to believe that human dreams can be fulfilled). By helping readers to imagine the unimaginable, he helps them to think about the unthinkable.

He has said frankly that he devises characters to personify his ideas and that all of his characters—youths, astronauts, and grotesques—are, in some way, variations on himself.

SOURCES

➢ www.raybradbury.com

➢ http://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/literature/what-is-fantasy-fiction

➢ http://www.homeofbob.com/literature/genre/fiction/fantsyElmnts.html

➢ http://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/ray-bradbury-master-of-american-science-fiction-/

➢ http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/09/how-modern-science-shaped-the-stories-of-ray-bradbury.html

➢ http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Martian_Chronicles/Martian_Chronicles03.html

➢ http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/what%20was%20the%20cold%20war.htm

➢ http://www.lib.uci.edu/about/publications/exhibits/warwithin/index.php?page=section_2

➢ UCI Libraries - The War Within, Part 2: McCarthyism during the Cold War

➢ http://www.amazon.com/A-Sound-Thunder-Other-Stories/dp/0060785691

➢ http://www.raybradbury.com/inhiswords.html

➢ http://www.raybradbury.com/about.html