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Technology In Ray Bradbury's The Pedestrian

1132 Words5 Pages

In a world where citizens value technology over all else, an obsession with the computerized metamorphoses the populace into brainwashed drones, dependent on the glassy, insentient screens surrounding them. In this society, people misunderstand and isolate those unscathed by the hegemony of the automated devices. The short story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury exposes readers to this world from the perspective of Mr. Leonard Mead, one of the few to remain resistant to the omnipotence of robotic gadgets in 2053. Mr. Mead strolls through his neighborhood as he does every night, watching the people possessed by their televisions through dark windows. Finally, the tale culminates in an encounter between Mr. Mead and the police, who fail to comprehend …show more content…

Even though technology appears simplistic and helpful at first, its level of control will become apparent in the future, increasingly deteriorating the abilities of those infatuated with computers. Accordingly, people of the future act as pre-programmed drones held captive by technology in such a way that it replaces human communication. While merely a dystopian fiction now, this short story forces readers to question the future that they wish to live in, and whether they want to live in a world where people cannot think or interact with others, preferring to sit dazedly in front of their television screens. Indeed, people already give their electronic devices an immense degree of control over their lives, and existing groups currently use technology to influence people’s thoughts and opinions, so this future may not be as far-fetched as it initially appears. The story leaves readers with a sentiment of fear and dread over the future of isolation and alienation in store for societies who depend too much on their computerized

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