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Technology And Technology In The Illustrated Man By Ray Bradbury

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Science fiction helps us explore new ways of thinking. It gives us a better perspective on humanity by helping us see into our past, present and future. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury is a collection of science fiction short stories. The author uses stories set in the future that show human life in the future. He gives examples of innovative technology in every story, but also shows the reader that technology can be helpful or harmful. From creating a children’s playroom to making a human-like puppet without strings, the author shows how technology can be used for both good and evil. For example, in The Veldt and The Marionettes the main characters used it to deceive others. Conflict happened when technology was used in an unexpected …show more content…

Marionette Incorporation’s ad says “Clients must be pledged to secrecy, for while an act is pending in Congress to legalize Marionettes, Inc., it is still a felony, if caught, to use one” (Bradbury, 239). In the story, each character (Brailing, his marionette Brailing 2, Smith and his wife/marionette Nettie) plans to use technology to deceive someone else, but ends up getting deceived themselves. Smith plans to replace himself with a marionette, but is shocked to find out that the person he thought was his wife was actually a marionette. Smith noticed “There was something about her. His heart throbbed violently. His tongue dried. He shivered. His knees suddenly turned to water. He collapsed “Nettie, Nettie!” he cried. For without desiring to do so, he bent forward and yet forward again until his fevered ear was resting firmly and irrevocably upon her round pink bosom. “Nettie!” he cried.” Tick-Tick-Tick” (Bradbury, 240 - 241). Brailing plans to have Brailing 2 take his place for a short time, “I’ll be back in a month and no one the wiser, except you” (Bradbury, 235), but he is not aware that the marionette began to develop human feelings and emotions. In the end, these emotions cause the marionette to want to dispose of the real Brailing so that he can have Brailing’s life, wife and good fortune permanently. “I’m going to put you in the box, lock it, and lose the key.” (Bradbury, 243). When Brailing tries to escape, Brailing 2 makes his move. “Good-by Brailing! Brailing stiffened. “What do you mean, ‘good-by’?” (Bradbury, 243). The reader is left to wonder what happens next. The author’s suspenseful tone and the negative mood makes the reader feel that it is not a happy ending. No one knew that the marionette would not only look human-like, but would also begin to act and feel like a human and end up taking its human owners place. This is another example how technology in

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