Change is one of the fundamental principles of life. In life, it is recurring that mentalities and philosophies alter inadvertently just as often as age and maturity. As life goes on, change allows life to continue and progress. Change is eternal. Changes result from certain events that take place in life, or oftentimes just because of maturity. Whatever changes that transpire, it is important to embrace them, as life goes on. Ray Bradbury’s novel Dandelion Wine embodies these aspects of change through its central characters, Doug and Tom Spaulding. They exemplify this idea of continual change through their lives during the summer of 1928. During this period, Doug and Tom watch change influence their lives and their community with the changes
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Both boys look towards elderly friends in their lives, to which they have established great camaraderie amongst. These friendships end abruptly due to death. Specifically, Douglas and his friends decide to visit Colonel Freeleigh's house as they usually do to visit the so-called "Time Machine". Upon arrival, “The three boys stood looking in at the old man seated there on the floor... There was something in his silence that made them all shut up their mouths"(Bradbury 134-35). When they find Colonel Freeleigh dead, it creates a significant change to their lives as they lost not only a friend, but also a mentor. We can see in the boy’s initial reaction that it was bothersome to find out of his death in the way they did. Corresponding with this idea, the boys also suffer change with death once more with the loss of Douglas and Tom's grandma to old age. Douglas and Tom struggling with the deaths of those surrounding them exemplifies change seen in their company amongst them. Through the abounding changes that Douglas and Tom must endure around them and with people, consequently, they also deal with the changes involving …show more content…
Towards the end of summer, changes involving oneself is a change especially evident. In the finale of summer, Douglas becomes very ill as he reflects the changes that have affected him during the summer. As he reflects these changes, he only views its negative aspects. Douglas only sees the change as bringing him away from what he knows. However, after the consultation by Mr. Jonas, it soon influences his mindset differently. “’Some people turn sad awfully young,’ he said. ‘No special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born that way…’ I will leave these two bottles here upon your bed. And when I’m gone I want you to wait a little while and then slowly open your eyes and sit up and reach over and drink the contents of these bottles” (Bradbury 219-20). The contents of the bottles that Mr. Jonas gives to Douglas contain menthol. This allows Douglas to recollect other memories from the substance besides summertime. As Douglas reminisces on other alternative memories, he began to grasp a new insight into his perspective of summer’s changing. He no longer sees this change as dreadful, but instead he views it as a pattern of life. In addition, he felt that he needed to enjoy summer while it lasted, and embrace the new seasons as they come and go. As readers, we can certainly see a change in mindset in Douglas as time
Both boys look towards elderly friends in their lives, to which they have established great camaraderie amongst. These friendships end abruptly due to death. Specifically, Douglas and his friends decide to visit Colonel Freeleigh's house as they usually do to visit the so-called "Time Machine". Upon arrival, “The three boys stood looking in at the old man seated there on the floor... There was something in his silence that made them all shut up their mouths"(Bradbury 134-35). When they find Colonel Freeleigh dead, it creates a significant change to their lives as they lost not only a friend, but also a mentor. We can see in the boy’s initial reaction that it was bothersome to find out of his death in the way they did. Corresponding with this idea, the boys also suffer change with death once more with the loss of Douglas and Tom's grandma to old age. Douglas and Tom struggling with the deaths of those surrounding them exemplifies change seen in their company amongst them. Through the abounding changes that Douglas and Tom must endure around them and with people, consequently, they also deal with the changes involving …show more content…
Towards the end of summer, changes involving oneself is a change especially evident. In the finale of summer, Douglas becomes very ill as he reflects the changes that have affected him during the summer. As he reflects these changes, he only views its negative aspects. Douglas only sees the change as bringing him away from what he knows. However, after the consultation by Mr. Jonas, it soon influences his mindset differently. “’Some people turn sad awfully young,’ he said. ‘No special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born that way…’ I will leave these two bottles here upon your bed. And when I’m gone I want you to wait a little while and then slowly open your eyes and sit up and reach over and drink the contents of these bottles” (Bradbury 219-20). The contents of the bottles that Mr. Jonas gives to Douglas contain menthol. This allows Douglas to recollect other memories from the substance besides summertime. As Douglas reminisces on other alternative memories, he began to grasp a new insight into his perspective of summer’s changing. He no longer sees this change as dreadful, but instead he views it as a pattern of life. In addition, he felt that he needed to enjoy summer while it lasted, and embrace the new seasons as they come and go. As readers, we can certainly see a change in mindset in Douglas as time