Sometimes when we encounter difficult circumstances, our final decision will indicate our character growth and ability to overcome our desires in order to create a stronger relationship with our loved ones. In the novel Something Wicked This Way Comes, Bradbury suggests that when an individual faces a difficult situation in which they must make a final decision, their self-acceptance and strengthening of relationships will allow them to succeed in a challenging circumstance. This is indicated by Charles Halloway who had the desire of re-living the moment of being a young boy but eventually discovers the evil façade the carnival puts on. In the end, Charles defeats the carnival and develops a long-lasting, strong relationship with his son, Will.
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Charles further discovers that the carnival feeds off of other people’s sadness and wistfulness, but are unable to attack against smiles, laughter, and happiness. Using this knowledge, Charles takes advantage of the carnival’s weakness and attempts to save Will and Jim from the carnival after shooting the Dust Witch. When he is about to shoot the Dust Witch using the wax bullet Mr. Dark provides, Charles states that he what he has marked on the bullet “is not a crescent moon. It is my own smile. I have put my smile on the bullet in the rifle.” (pg. 251) This demonstrates that Charles is explicitly stating to the carnival that he will go against them and prevent Mr. Dark from harming other innocent, young souls. As he continues to fight against the carnival, Charles gradually begins to “accept everything at last, [accept] the carnival, the hills beyond, the people in the hills, Jim, Will, and above all himself and all of life” (pg. 260). When Will tells his father in the mirror maze that regardless of his age, he will always love him, this shows the tight bond that Will and his father have built with each through the experience of a difficult situation. This allows Charles to confidently realize that even though he is getting older by every moment, his relationship with his son will remain strong due to the strong trust they have built with each other. Through this complicating experience, Charles finally accepts that time will continuously move forward and that nothing, not even the carnival, is able to manipulate nor stop
Charles further discovers that the carnival feeds off of other people’s sadness and wistfulness, but are unable to attack against smiles, laughter, and happiness. Using this knowledge, Charles takes advantage of the carnival’s weakness and attempts to save Will and Jim from the carnival after shooting the Dust Witch. When he is about to shoot the Dust Witch using the wax bullet Mr. Dark provides, Charles states that he what he has marked on the bullet “is not a crescent moon. It is my own smile. I have put my smile on the bullet in the rifle.” (pg. 251) This demonstrates that Charles is explicitly stating to the carnival that he will go against them and prevent Mr. Dark from harming other innocent, young souls. As he continues to fight against the carnival, Charles gradually begins to “accept everything at last, [accept] the carnival, the hills beyond, the people in the hills, Jim, Will, and above all himself and all of life” (pg. 260). When Will tells his father in the mirror maze that regardless of his age, he will always love him, this shows the tight bond that Will and his father have built with each through the experience of a difficult situation. This allows Charles to confidently realize that even though he is getting older by every moment, his relationship with his son will remain strong due to the strong trust they have built with each other. Through this complicating experience, Charles finally accepts that time will continuously move forward and that nothing, not even the carnival, is able to manipulate nor stop