Something Wicked This Way Comes: Bradbury’s Literary Masterpiece Think back to the days of your youth. Chances are, these years were spent in a state of constant excitement and leisure, free from any and all worries. Many would agree that adolescence is the most simple and joyful stage of one’s life. However, in Ray Bradbury’s literary classic, Something Wicked This Way Comes, this is certainly not the case for two young boys named Jim and Will. In this best-selling horror novel, rather than ambling across serene fields and passing time with friends as most youngsters would, Jim and Will find themselves in a deadly battle between the very forces of good and evil. This duo, along with Will’s father, challenge a mysterious carnival that arrives
…show more content…
This incredible novel distinguishes itself from countless other fantasy novels through the unique way in which it is written. Bradbury narrates the entire plot in his distinct writing style, and he has received both literary appraisal and criticism for his unusual ways. In reality, though, Bradbury’s writing style significantly enhances the audience’s overall reading experience. Over the course of the narrative, it becomes clear that Bradbury uses the two literary techniques of developing motifs and foreshadowing events in order to vastly improve his novel. To begin, Bradbury makes an effort to include motifs, or recurring elements, throughout the story. Perhaps the most prevalent motif present in his novel is the concept of age. More specifically, Bradbury constantly expresses various characters’ temptations to alter their age, either in order to relive their youth or experience the responsibilities and freedoms that accompany adulthood. For instance, Charles Halloway, Will’s father, reveals his desires to once again be a child: “‘I don’t need [a drink],’ said Halloway. ‘But someone inside me does’ ‘Who?’ The boy I once was, thought Halloway” (Bradbury 19). As Halloway wishfully reflects on his childhood, it becomes clear to the audience that he …show more content…
Along with introducing characters and establishing setting, Bradbury foreshadows the primary conflict of the novel in the first few chapters. For instance, Bradbury begins his novel with obvious examples of foreshadowing in his prologue: “But one strange wild dark long year, Halloween came early” (Bradbury 1). Bradbury does not explicitly explain the context or significance of this sentence, so the reader is left to wonder what it truly implies. However, the reader can infer that some strange, malicious force or event will be encountered in the plot of the novel. In this manner, Bradbury skillfully develops a great amount of anticipation within the readers. In addition, Bradbury narrates, “Somewhere not so far back, vast lightnings stomped the earth. Somewhere, a storm like a great beast with terrible teeth could not be denied” (Bradbury 5). By warning that a powerful thunderstorm is approaching, Bradbury indicates to the audience that some type of malicious force is rapidly approaching. He is therefore developing a sense of suspense and curiosity, as the reader is left to speculate what the “great beast with terrible teeth” refers to. Many literary critics have praised Bradbury for his tendency to build suspense in his works, regardless of the genre. As described in the Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Horror Fiction, Second Edition, “[Bradbury] was incredibly
This incredible novel distinguishes itself from countless other fantasy novels through the unique way in which it is written. Bradbury narrates the entire plot in his distinct writing style, and he has received both literary appraisal and criticism for his unusual ways. In reality, though, Bradbury’s writing style significantly enhances the audience’s overall reading experience. Over the course of the narrative, it becomes clear that Bradbury uses the two literary techniques of developing motifs and foreshadowing events in order to vastly improve his novel. To begin, Bradbury makes an effort to include motifs, or recurring elements, throughout the story. Perhaps the most prevalent motif present in his novel is the concept of age. More specifically, Bradbury constantly expresses various characters’ temptations to alter their age, either in order to relive their youth or experience the responsibilities and freedoms that accompany adulthood. For instance, Charles Halloway, Will’s father, reveals his desires to once again be a child: “‘I don’t need [a drink],’ said Halloway. ‘But someone inside me does’ ‘Who?’ The boy I once was, thought Halloway” (Bradbury 19). As Halloway wishfully reflects on his childhood, it becomes clear to the audience that he …show more content…
Along with introducing characters and establishing setting, Bradbury foreshadows the primary conflict of the novel in the first few chapters. For instance, Bradbury begins his novel with obvious examples of foreshadowing in his prologue: “But one strange wild dark long year, Halloween came early” (Bradbury 1). Bradbury does not explicitly explain the context or significance of this sentence, so the reader is left to wonder what it truly implies. However, the reader can infer that some strange, malicious force or event will be encountered in the plot of the novel. In this manner, Bradbury skillfully develops a great amount of anticipation within the readers. In addition, Bradbury narrates, “Somewhere not so far back, vast lightnings stomped the earth. Somewhere, a storm like a great beast with terrible teeth could not be denied” (Bradbury 5). By warning that a powerful thunderstorm is approaching, Bradbury indicates to the audience that some type of malicious force is rapidly approaching. He is therefore developing a sense of suspense and curiosity, as the reader is left to speculate what the “great beast with terrible teeth” refers to. Many literary critics have praised Bradbury for his tendency to build suspense in his works, regardless of the genre. As described in the Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Horror Fiction, Second Edition, “[Bradbury] was incredibly