Leonard Mead The Pedestrian Analysis

In the year 2053, societal norms and expectations are extremely different from what they are today. The past events in the world of Ray Bradbury’s The Pedestrian shaped its culture into one of screens and indoor activity. Leonard Mead stands outside that, a lone figure standing against the pressuring rush of change. Mead’s habit of walking outside showed his habits and connection to the past culture of his world. He is a writer, a career considered dead in current day. He takes walks alone at night along empty streets, an act considered strange and unordinary. Mead’s house is all brightly lit, a stark contrast to the rest of the dark, unlit houses in the city. Leonard Mead has a strong connection to the past and shows a strong determination …show more content…
He enjoys taking long walks outside at night when all others would prefer to be in their homes in front of the television. To say this habit to be strange in his era would be an understatement. However, it goes deeper than that. When confronted by the police car Mead states that the only reasons he is outside are for the air and to see. The police car responds with a question, “And there is air in your house, you have an air conditioner, Mr. Mead? (Bradbury 1)" Mead replies affirmatively as the car asks him if he has a television. Mead replies that he does not and the car’s suspicion is heightened. For a citizen to not have a television and to be walking around at such a late hour is truly a rare, if not a singular, experience. The car simply cannot believe that Mead is mentally sound. This highlights the drastic change in societal norms from the current day to 2053. In the current day Meads actions would be normal, however in 2053 they are completely …show more content…
In 2053 the writer/author is considered to be a dead profession. The police car even goes so far as to state, “No profession (Bradbury 1)” when Mead discloses what he does for a living. In the year of 2053, in this age of screens and technology, in a society where life is geared so heavily towards nights indoors spent in front of the television, Mead’s self declared job is a concept that the police car cannot grasp as a job. Simply put, the demand for authors and literature of any kind has reached an all time low. What really drives the police car’s analysis about Mead home is that Mead has no television. When Mead reveals that he has no television, the car, according to the standards of the day, concludes that Mead is not mentally sound. Quite literally, in 2053, every family has a television in their house that provides their entertainment. Books have quite simply become a relic of the past, an ancient symbol of a bygone age. Mead’s claims to both be a writer and not have a television not only demonstrate his strong connection to the past but show just how not in tune he is with the current