The text under analysis is a short story "The Smile"written by the prominent American writer Ray Bradbury. Raymond Douglas "Ray" Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an American fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery fiction writer. He is best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and for the science fiction and horror stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), Bradbury was one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into comic books, television shows and films.
The Smile" is set in the future after warfare has destroyed nearly all traces of civilization. Cities have been reduced to junk piles and cornfields glow with radioactivity at night. The survivors of this warfare wear soiled gunnysack clothing. Their homes are caves and other semi-dwellings that can give them even a measure of protection from the icy weather. Their spirits are as cold as the winter weather because they are filled with hatred for the past; the past has caused their present to be miserable and deplorable.In this society where beauty is nonexistent and where only hatred and destruction remain, the young boy Tom,the main character, stands in a queue, waiting his turn to view "the smile," the Mona Lisa. As each man passes by the portrait, he "appreciates" it by spitting upon it. However, when Tom's turn comes to spit upon the painting, his mouth is dry. All that he can say is "She's beautiful!" The crowd surges forward on Tom, ripping and destroying the portrait. Tom, in blind imitation, also grabs at the canvas and is successful in tearing off a small portion. When he arrives at his silo home later that night, he gently opens the crumpled fragment of canvas that he has held so tightly. There in his hand is her smile. He thinks that it is lovely and holds it close