Challenging Social Norms In Ray Bradbury's All Summer

When a person sets out on an endeavor to achieve personal goals and success they often end up challenging the social norm and expectations. This can end up beneficial or detrimental to an individual. The short stories “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury, “Split Cherry Tree” by Jesse Stuart, and “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury prove this point well. In “All summer in a Day”, Margot faces consequences by challenging the social order and being the only student on Venus to have seen the sun. In “Split Cherry Tree” Luster tests the social order by arriving at Dave's school to confront Professor Herbert, but it is beneficial for him. In “A Sound of Thunder” Eckels faces benefits and consequences by buying a Time Safari and challenging the

This actually ends up being detrimental to her. For example, Bradbury describes how during class Margo is remembering life before Venus, “And then, of course, the biggest crime of all was that she [Margot] had come here [Venus] only five years ago from Earth, and she remembered the Sun and the way the sun was and the sky was when she was four in Ohio. And they, they had been on Venus all their lives, and they had been only two years old when the last sun came out and had long since forgotten the color and heat of it and the way it really was” (2). This excerpt establishes that Margo once lived on earth and saw the sun, unlike the other children. Because she is the only one to see the sun she challenges the social norms. Additionally, one of Margot’s classmates says, “‘Let's put her in a closet, before the teacher comes!”’ (2). Bradbury explains, “They surged about her, caught her up ad bore her, protesting, and then pleading, and then crying, back into a tunnel, a room, a closet, where they slammed and locked the door” (2). While she is locked up, the sun comes out for the

By doing this, however, he experiences benefits. For instance, in this short story Dave breaks a cherry tree at school. Since he does not have enough money to pay off his debt, he works for Professor herbert instead. When Dave comes back home, his father Luster is not happy about this. Luster furiously claims, “‘What was you doin’ clear out in Eif Crabtree’s place? He lives four miles from th’ county high school. Don't they teach you no books at that high school? Do they jist let you get out and gad over th’ hillsides? If that's all they do I'll keep you at home, Dave. I've got work here fer you to do!”’ (2). Luster continues, “‘I'll attend to that myself in th’ mornin. I'll take keer o’ ‘im. He ain't from this county nohow. I'll go down in the morning and see ‘im”’ (2). Luster decides the situation unfair so he challenges the social order will go down to the school to have a talk with Professor Herbert. Then Luster arrives at the school to talk to Professor Herbert. Luster exclaims, “‘This ain't no high school. It's a bug school, a lizard chool, a snake school! It ain't no school nohow!”’ (5). After a lengthy talk with the Professor, Luster realizes that times have changed since he was younger and he needs to understand that the teachers are knowledgeable and are making the right decisions. Luster admits, “‘I am a strong man as ever