Foley 1
Brennan Foley
12/3/07
Mr. Volz
English 1
How Technology Destroys Individualism
Technology, such as e-mail and instant messaging, helps humans communicate more quickly and easier. However, by communicating through e-mail and instant messaging humans cannot always feel the emotions, or hear the tone of voice of an individual. Artists have concerns with the rapid advancements of technology which some think threats individuality. This is a concern of Ray Bradbury in much of his writing, including “The Pedestrian”. Throughout “The Pedestrian,” Bradbury expresses how technology could destroy individualism in the future if left unmonitored. Bradbury expresses this through the events in the story and symbolism.
One way that Bradbury expresses how technology destroys individualism is the plot. Leonard Mead, the protagonist, is interrogated by a robotic cop car, the antagonist, for walking around the city at night. ‘And you have a viewing screen in your house to see with?’ ‘No.’ ‘No?’ ‘There was a crackling quiet that in itself was an accusation.’ ‘Are you married, Mr. Mead?’ ‘No.’ ‘Not married,’ said the police voice behind the fiery beam. The moon was high and clear among the stars and the houses were gray and silent.’ (Bradbury 303) The cop car is asking Mr. Mead simple questions and it’s flabbergasted that Mr. Mead does not have a television or a wife, because everyone in the city has both. When the cop car tries to answer Mr. Meads’ questions, the “crackling quite” suggests that the computer in the cop car has difficulties processing