Heroism in Normality Ray Bradbury's “Last Night of the World” features an exceedingly average, but nonetheless heroic husband and wife duo. In the face of their imminent death, the two are able to keep themselves and their children to an everyday, ordinary routine. They are both aware they contributed no destructive behaviour or malice that would cause the Earth's end, yet they understand the faults of humankind and are willing to accept punishment for all the wars, crimes, and misdeeds committed by those who are not themselves.
Bradbury's husband and wife team know very well the Earth is to end as if it were “the closing of a book” (1). Face to face with death, the two choose to retain a sense of normalcy and enjoy their last night together. …show more content…
Nowhere in Bradbury’s story is it alluded to this married couple is a dangerous, criminal match. The two seem to be quite in love with each other, and not deserving in the least of death by apocalypse. They appear to be a rather plain, common family who are comprised of two happy children, a working husband, and a social wife. For the 1950s, the family fits a very generic, cookie cutter outline. They seem to be well off but not exceedingly wealthy, they perform common day to day tasks such as reading the newspaper and washing the dishes, and they spend their nights listening to the radio together. It is not indicated they hold any political sway, have a dark and malicious past, or have any determination to cause harm. The husband admits they “haven't been very much of anything except us, while a big part of the world was busy being lots of quite awful things"(2). Considering themselves excluded from the wars and crimes of the world around them, the inhumane behaviour, and general unpleasantness, the family of four seems to have means to plead exemption from the end of humanity. While they could contribute to the ongoing cold war, the violence, the bloodshed, and turmoil of this planet, they instead dutifully go off to work, take care of their family, and show nothing but kindness and compassion for one another. For the couple who committed no foul deed, choosing to remain peaceful is not something that is required nor expected of
Bradbury's husband and wife team know very well the Earth is to end as if it were “the closing of a book” (1). Face to face with death, the two choose to retain a sense of normalcy and enjoy their last night together. …show more content…
Nowhere in Bradbury’s story is it alluded to this married couple is a dangerous, criminal match. The two seem to be quite in love with each other, and not deserving in the least of death by apocalypse. They appear to be a rather plain, common family who are comprised of two happy children, a working husband, and a social wife. For the 1950s, the family fits a very generic, cookie cutter outline. They seem to be well off but not exceedingly wealthy, they perform common day to day tasks such as reading the newspaper and washing the dishes, and they spend their nights listening to the radio together. It is not indicated they hold any political sway, have a dark and malicious past, or have any determination to cause harm. The husband admits they “haven't been very much of anything except us, while a big part of the world was busy being lots of quite awful things"(2). Considering themselves excluded from the wars and crimes of the world around them, the inhumane behaviour, and general unpleasantness, the family of four seems to have means to plead exemption from the end of humanity. While they could contribute to the ongoing cold war, the violence, the bloodshed, and turmoil of this planet, they instead dutifully go off to work, take care of their family, and show nothing but kindness and compassion for one another. For the couple who committed no foul deed, choosing to remain peaceful is not something that is required nor expected of