Although the primary link in Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes is between its two primary characters, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, the relationship between Will’s heroic father Charles and the vile Mr. Dark has a much larger role in shaping the meaning of the text. The relationship between the latter two characters shapes the meaning of the text by identifying its implicit conflict, that of the ongoing battle between morality and wickedness. Even before they actually meet, the pair is introduced as antitheses to each other. Charles is described in his introduction as “not grandfather, not far-wandering, ancient uncle, as some might think, but [a] father” (Bradbury, 11). Such an underwhelming introduction paints him as a pushover, as someone who is not tuned into
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In contrast, Mr. Dark is first established as the exact opposite: he is portrayed as being well composed, swift, and “moon calm” (52). Emphasizing such vastly different attributes of the two characters allows for Bradbury to juxtapose them, which demonstrates them as foils of each other before they even meet. In the first few of Mr. Dark and Charles’ encounters, the former is easily able to outmatch the latter both physically and mentally. Thus, Charles must improvise either a distraction or an escape. At one point, Mr. Dark himself recognizes his power over him, noting that “[he] could kill [Charles]” at any time. Mr. Dark’s overwhelming power over Charles acts as an allegory of corruption’s frequently overwhelming power over morality. At times, particularly in the beginning of a crisis, it can seem as if there is no hope and darkness has the upper hand over light. But, as the book reaches its climax, the stakes change entirely. As Mr. Dark instructs one of his cronies to murder Charles, the middle-aged hero goes through a paradigm shift. Instead of fearing his demise and allowing Mr. Dark to overpower
In contrast, Mr. Dark is first established as the exact opposite: he is portrayed as being well composed, swift, and “moon calm” (52). Emphasizing such vastly different attributes of the two characters allows for Bradbury to juxtapose them, which demonstrates them as foils of each other before they even meet. In the first few of Mr. Dark and Charles’ encounters, the former is easily able to outmatch the latter both physically and mentally. Thus, Charles must improvise either a distraction or an escape. At one point, Mr. Dark himself recognizes his power over him, noting that “[he] could kill [Charles]” at any time. Mr. Dark’s overwhelming power over Charles acts as an allegory of corruption’s frequently overwhelming power over morality. At times, particularly in the beginning of a crisis, it can seem as if there is no hope and darkness has the upper hand over light. But, as the book reaches its climax, the stakes change entirely. As Mr. Dark instructs one of his cronies to murder Charles, the middle-aged hero goes through a paradigm shift. Instead of fearing his demise and allowing Mr. Dark to overpower