A Life Worth Living
Dandelion Wine is a semi-autobiographical novel of Ray Bradbury's life. The author, Bradbury, was inspired by his hometown and the memories of his childhood when he wrote this novel. Douglas, a twelve-year-old boy, lives in Green town, Illinois during the summer of 1928. The character Douglas represents how the quality of life is more important than the quantity of life. Douglas also represents Bradbury, himself, as his middle name is Douglas.
In the introductory to Dandelion Wine, Bradbury informs the reader about his past and connects it to the purpose of writing Dandelion Wine. Bradbury explains about meeting Mr. Electrico who told him to "live forever" (Bradbury). Bradbury wanted to live forever just as Mr. Electric said. Eventually, Bradbury resolved to become an author and he will live forever in the books he wrote (biography.com Editors). Lena Auffmann, a character in Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, tries to knock some sense into her husband as she explains the ridiculousness of a Happiness Machine. She realizes that without sadness we cannot truly comprehend what it means to be happy. Without death, we cannot understand the value of life. Lena's husband, Leo, eventually realizes that the real Happiness Machine is his family (Bradbury 69).
Throughout the book, Bradbury emphasizes that quality in
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Every instance in Douglas's summer points to the great value of life and what it truly means to be alive. When Douglas first comes to the conclusion that he is alive he exclaims that he wants to experience everything there was to feel, including weariness and excitement. Everything he experienced after his profound realization was as though it was the first time because he paid attention to the beauty and marvels of life. To live a good life, you must take time to enjoy the simple things in life and you must not take anything for