Rhetorical Questions

In his short story, “The Last Night of the World”, Ray Bradbury explores the rhetorical question by asking, “What would you do if you knew that this was the last night of the world?” (Bradbury 1). Wondering why or how it could possibly be the last night of the world, the wife presumes to ask if it is due to a war, a hydrogen, or an atomic bomb or because of the germ warfare. Nevertheless, it was simply due to the fact that, that night was “the closing of a book” (Bradbury 1). Through the characters thoughts and actions Bradbury is able to express the ability of acceptance in things that cannot be changed and accepting and overcoming the thought and feeling of fear. Bradbury presents endless thoughts yet understandings within the characters.

The husband proceeded to tell his wife, “Do you know, I won’t miss anything but you and the girls. I never liked the cities or my work or anything except you three. I won’t miss a thing except perhaps the change in the weather, and a glass of water when it’s hot, and I might miss sleeping” (Bradbury 3). The husband admits to the wife that he never liked his life or his surroundings. He admits to her that the only three things that kept him going were herself and their two daughters. Within this he also expresses his appreciation for the little and simple things in life, such as a glass of water when he is thirsty. Bradbury allowed the husband to think that the end of the world was not too bad

They also thought about how others surrounding them were spending their time as the late night arrived and the world came to an end. However, Bradbury allowed the married couple to continue their day and their normal routine. The married couple proceeded to wash the dishes and put their two daughters to bed. As the two girls were put to bed and kissed goodnight, “the little lights by their beds turned on and the door left open just a trifle” (Bradbury 3). Acting as if nothing was about to change that night, the thought of their daughters arose. The married couple worried that their daughters had the slightest clue of what would change and end their lives. The wife tells the husband, “I wonder if the children know” (Bradbury 3). On the other hand, the husband assured the wife that they were clueless and tells her “No, of course not” (Bradbury 3). Bradbury displayed the dream to be symbolic to adults and not to