The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury Literary Analysis Essay Example

Have you ever not been able to be various from other people? Well, this is what happens to Leonard Mead. In the story, he is just unconcernedly taking a walk. Before long, law enforcement halts him. He gets in trouble simply for wanting to go on a walk, unlike the other people in society who prefer to be lethargic and watch television. In “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury there are analogous characters, reoccurring symbols, and representative themes.

Leonard is the main protagonist of the story. He is a citizen in a futuristic town in 2053. The protagonist differs from the other citizens because he enjoys nature. He does not feel lonely or distressed from being alone and diverse from his community. The text narrates, "He would stand upon the corner of an intersection and peer down long moonlit avenues of sidewalk in four directions, deciding which way to go, but it really made no difference; he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053"(1). This gives the idea that he is undisturbed about being alone. He is motivated to be outside to enjoy the qualities of nature, unlike the other townsfolk who sit in their houses and watch television. Leonard appears to be an unpleasant character since he lost his job as a writer. He has spite since Leonard is enraged that society does not need his occupation anymore. They don't need it because of the technology and lack of societal normality. He changed throughout the story by showing his resistance externally while he kept his resistance Internal for much of the story. 

A symbol in the story is the television. I think this symbol shows the loss of conformity between the citizens in their society. This monologue says, “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” (). This quote really dives into the truth about this dystopian world and Leonard. Leonard not having television shows that he is resisting the power of peer pressure. This shows the abstract concept that the author was going for with the symbol. This bold symbol Informs readers of how society has normalized laziness and lack of thought. 

The theme in the story is isolation. Leonard tends to not interact with others. The isolation is displayed in the text by Leonard not having a wife or any known family. Most people in the town have a family to be a part of while Leonard doesn’t attempt to form relationships with other people. This isolation confuses the police since it is abnormal. The following quote elucidates, “Are you married, Mr. Mead?" 

"No." 

"Not married," said the police voice behind the fiery beam, The moon was high and clear among the stars and the houses were gray and silent. 

"Nobody wanted me," said Leonard Mead with a smile” (3). This makes the reader think of how the police assumed he’s married since it is social normality. The setting affects the quote by showing how dark and gloomy it is rather than bright and happy. That sets the tone for the scene to be rather depressing, which can show the theme of Isolation. This depiction makes readers think of how no one is around. Therefore, the theme is Isolation.

In conclusion, The Pedestrian tells the story of how Leonard differs from society and receives punishment for it. The townspeople submit to the rules while Leonard resists the power. Leonard Is motivated to be resistive since television consumed their lives, he now doesn’t have anyone to write to and do his job for. A complex symbol in the story is the television because it stands for the repetition within their society. This can represent how our real-life society functions within itself. The theme throughout the story is isolation because Leonard tends to be a loner, compared to everyone else with families and relationships. Isolation appears throughout the story within Leonard. Overall, this story teaches the lesson of not submitting to social normality.