The Illustrated Man Analysis

Science fiction is fiction based off of predictions of the future, scientific knowledge, technological advances, and major environmental changes. Science Fiction frequently displays events such as time travel or extracurricular space travels like life on planets other than earth. Science Fiction is the sole base of the stories in the Illustrated Man. The Illustrated Man is about a man who has these magical illustrations drawn all over him. The stories in the chapters depict the movements and stories that the illustrations on his body are telling. By reading a couple chapters you can infer that Rad Bradbury is using Science Fiction as the base of all the stories because they use topics such as clones and 4-D illusions. In each story Bradbury

In Marionettes Inc., just like the definition of its name, it’s about electronic puppets, or also known as robots. In the story Brawling has given into the efforts the corporation gave into people buying Marionettes. Brawling has used his Marionette to give the illusion to his wife that he is always around when really he is out enjoying his freedom that has been long awaited. When brawling confines his scheme to his friend Smith that he is planning on using the Marionette to get on his dream vacation he slowly convinces Smith to invest in one. When Smith agrees to the idea he goes to get the money he saved but discoveries another occurrence while Brawling is also having a little trouble controlling Brawling Two. In the story the two believe that these Marionette’s will give them the freedom from their loved ones that they desire, but are faced with reality in the end. They learn the hard way that life can’t be easily fixed by a new electronic or two, you have to work it out yourself rather than technology, because new gizmos and gadgets won’t solve all your problems. It teaches them that they need to think logically before making assumptions that one object can solve all their worries. In the chapter while Brawling is explaining the Marionette he says, “For six months if necessary. And he’s built to do everything—eat, sleep, perspire—everything, natural, as natural is. You’ll take good care of my

The consumers now have the image of having to do nothing but give the Marionette its next command rather than contemplating how this treatment may affect the Marionette and the offense it might take to the comment. This advanced technology is again portrayed as being the best thing that ever happened to you but just making your life harder than it was before. Instead of gaining more knowledge spending time with your family, getting affection and comfort from your friends and loved ones it’s now the Marionette who gets it. They’re not being told that the Marionette might gravitate toward their life and want to have it for their own. They’re told the good things without facing the outcome. Technology has always been shown as this amazing thing that could make your life better and gain you more happiness, but in reality its pushing you away from society and more into this little isolated island you have made for yourself where you might suffer because you have let technology consume you so much that you’ve dug such a deep hole that it’s going to be nearly impossible to get yourself out. We’re told that technology is the answer to all of our problems when really it may be one of the strongest things that can destroy us. Ray Bradbury said himself that he is not trying to predict the future he is trying to prevent it, but all though the fact these stories were written almost 20 years ago, slowly our world is walking down the same path