Golden Opprotunity

With the summer Olympics in full swing, several Americans have fixed their attention on one color: gold. Many athletes have worked their entire lives to attain this color, similar to the way Will and Jim fight for it in Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. Bradbury, an Emmy-award winner, describes Will and Jim’s constant battle between light and dark in the era of the baby-boomers. The boys always fight for the goodness surrounding light; therefore, I believe that the color gold best represents the conflict between the boys and Mr. Dark. Bradbury first introduces Dark when they see the evil man from a distance, and as they watched, “darkness came” (53). Through the mysterious connotations of “darkness,” Bradbury implies the ominous power he possesses. Without the power of light, Will and Jim have no means to stop this monstrosity from entering their town. But the author describes an instance where the boys face the opposite element when coming out of a Mirror Maze, and they “stepped into sunlight” (65). The Mirror Maze, a creation of Mr. Dark, tortures its victims by showing them images of themselves at a desirable age. Bradbury utilizes the golden “sunlight” as a symbol for safety, sharply juxtaposing the color to the darkness surrounding the villain’s contraption. The author carries this symbol until the end of the story after the victory over Dark when Will, his father, and Jim all walk into the night as “the moon watched” (289). The illuminating connotations of “moon” again juxtapose the darkness of the night, a symbol for the menacing power Mr. Dark previously held. By utilizing light of the moon as a symbol for justice, Bradbury asserts that good men will always triumph over the evils of darkness. The author sends this message to those who struggle to fight their own demons, encouraging them to find joy through the golden light. Conversely, Bradbury also addresses villains such as Dark, displaying how their evil can never prevail. I see the color gold as a symbol of hope, not only carrying the dreams of Olympians but also those of everyday Americans to a better tomorrow.  

Father's Love

Growing up, every child longs for their father’s love and approval. If a child gains these gifts, his or her self-confident can grow exponentially. Emmy award winner Ray Bradbury highlights this assertion in his novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes. Bradbury tells of two boys who discover a magic carnival. One boy, Jim Nightshade, lives only with his mother, while his best friend, Will Halloway, resides with both parents. Although nine percent of children grew up with a single parent in the 1960s, Bradbury writes with admiration of Will’s father, Charles Halloway. The author describes Mr. Halloway as a brave and trustworthy man, two traits that I would like to embody. Bradbury first highlights these traits when the father confronts his son, stating “‘you didn’t steal anything’” (131). Through this blunt claim, Bradbury illustrates his unwavering trust in his son’s innocence. If I could embody Mr. Halloway, I would hope my assurance in my child’s character would remain just as steadfast. Again the author writes favorably of Mr. Halloway when the father tries to stop the evil Mr. Dark from finding Will and Jim by accusing him of acting “jumpy” (174). By criticizing the villain of acting obsessed over such innocence, Mr. Halloway leaves Mr. Dark irate. Bradbury indirectly characterizes Will’s father as brave for protecting the children, an action that I would hope to take for my child. The novelist further justifies Mr. Halloway’s integrity when he explains “I hate…not being able” (130). Although Bradbury expresses Halloway’s regret through the bitter diction “hate,” he highlights the man’s nobility when the father ignores his own troubles in order to help Will and Jim. The author applies this message to parents today to encourage them to protect their children from the evils of the world. In my life, I see men such as Mr. Halloway as everyday heroes that make a great difference in many lives. Although some men wish to return to the joy of youth, Bradbury emphasizes that protecting others will ultimately bring superior self-satisfaction than nostalgia ever could.

YOUthful Style

Throughout the first third of Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury’s stylistic choices greatly affect his writing, a passion of his since age eleven. Bradbury tells of Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway, two boys who discover magic in a traveling carnival. The author writes from a time when boys often pushed the limits, such as the members of the band The Beatles. In order to emphasize their curiosity, Bradbury often switches from a third person point of view to second, a stylistic choice that I find highly effective for his novel. The author applies this technique when describing a habit of Jim’s: “you never look away” from the world (40). By using Jim as a synecdoche, Bradbury asserts why young boys often feel inquisitive. In switching to second person, he creates pathos felt by those who explore. Consequently, Bradbury generates empathy towards Jim’s wayward character. Again the author uses this style through Will’s father, claiming “you’re…nearest to dead” at three AM (59). Through the use of second person, the author escalates the anticipation of those who awaken at this hour. While his pathos entrances the reader, Bradbury juxtaposes the anxiety of the elder generation to the excitement of their children, who await the night’s wonders. The author additionally describes a night time ritual for Jim and Will by using this stylistic choice: whenever one boy plays a certain tune on an old board, “you could tell the… venture” (94). By using the boyish diction of “venture,” Bradbury creates an elated tone. He again produces pathos through the pronoun “you” and this elation, a relatable emotion for those who have pursued the night. Overall, the author’s ability to smoothly transition from third to second person not only effectively communicates the novel’s main themes, but it also expresses to young boys the fun of exploration. I believe that those who look down on the use of this technique will see intricacy it adds to the developing lives of Will and Jim.  Bradbury intends to win over these skeptical readers by placing them in the boys' “ventures,” which the lads will never forget.