A Critical Analysis of "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Humans are dependent upon technology. “There Will Come Soft Rains” is a poetic and poignant 20th century short story written by Ray Bradbury. This short story subtly discusses the nature of arrogance and hubristic tendencies of humans, as well as the irony of our progress; the author is questioning the very notion of human progression. With the use of setting and character, the author conveys the theme of the story: technology is quickly advancing, and it could be harmful to humanity.

The story begins with the repeated sound of a clock saying “Today is August 4, 2026” (Bradbury, 1). The short story was written in 1950, and, at a basic level, Bradbury is predicting what will happen in the not-so-distant future, if humans continue with their technological ways. “There Will Come Soft Rains” demonstrates that the technological advances that could be used to make life easier for humans could also be misused and bring about mankind’s ultimate destruction. By making the house the focal point of the story, Bradbury shows that humans have made their technological knowledge work for them to make their daily lives orderly and carefree, merely for their own comfort. Before the nuclear explosion, the family that had lived in the house clearly had a life of comfort and ease. Ironically, the house itself pampered the family and had even done much of their thinking for them. Once the house, made by humans’ technological advances, started to function, it no longer needed humankind. The house ran itself so smoothly and orderly that it might have lived on longer if nature had not interfered and destroyed the house in the conclusion of the story. Jennifer Hicks states that, “the house is reduced to ‘smoke and silence,’ similar to the town which surro...

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...ke humanity’s ways. Our arrogance has blinded us to the truth of our actions, and the house itself appears blind or deluded to the consequences. Now that the humans are gone, their deaths most likely caused by their own technological advances, the mechanical house continues to function. This suggests that our own advances in technology could be what ends up destroying humanity.

Our technological advances could be detrimental to humanity. In “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury, such themes are explored. Bradbury showcases the lack of acknowledgement to human limitations and our hubristic nature as he questions the very notion of human progress. Humans do not consider the ramifications before committing an act in the name of progress. By using setting and character, the theme of the story is clear: our technology could outlast and ultimately destroy humanity.