Blind Optimism in Something Wicked This Way Comes, a Novel by Ray Bradbury

Introduction

While reading Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, I initially struggled with understanding how the narrative directly related to the class material. The book unfolds almost like a long poem, rich in metaphor and symbolism. As I was preparing for my exam, I began to notice parallels between the characters in the book and the overarching theme of optimism, which I emphasized in my paper. The first fifteen or so chapters describe a single day, allowing us to become acquainted with the characters. In this section, we meet Will and Jim, two 13-year-old boys. Jim is the more adventurous of the two, while Will is more reserved. Will tends to follow Jim at a distance, yet Jim can persuade him to do almost anything. We also meet Charles Halloway in this part of the novel. He is Will’s father and works in the town library. This early portion of the novel resonates with the attitudes prevalent in America after World War I. Jim represents America’s blind optimism towards creating a utopia, akin to the Wall Street speculators who believed there was no end to the rising stock prices (Bradbury, 1962).

Blind Optimism in Something Wicked This Way Comes

Will can be related to America’s more reserved side; he is equally ambitious but follows Jim at a distance. He allows Jim to make mistakes but is always there to help him. Will's role is similar to that of the presidents during the early 1920s. He doesn’t over-regulate Jim but is always there to support him. Will’s father, Charles Halloway, embodies the lessons that we fail to learn from history. His demeanor in the first part of the novel is marked by sadness. There is a sense that he understands the complexities of the world, yet he is still secretly intrigued by the arriving carnival. This is where Will inherits his reserved nature, similar to how presidents are often students of history. Will learns from his father’s mistakes (Smith, 2005).

The Carnival and Its Enticements

When the carnival finally arrives in town, community members such as the boys’ teacher, Miss Foley, Mr. Cougar, and the lightning rod salesman, are all enticed and seduced by the carnival and the tattooed man who runs it. Mr. Dark has the ability to fulfill their desires, but as a consequence, they risk losing themselves to the carnival. This mirrors the theme of selling one's soul to the devil. Mr. Dark's role in the narrative can be compared to the allure of money in our history textbooks. The community is so blinded by the spectacle of the carnival—the stock market in 1921-1928—that all they see is an optimistic future ahead. Jim is one of those drawn to the carnival, following it blindly. As the carnival's evil nature is revealed, it can be likened to the stock market crash of 1929. The excessive optimism leads to inevitable negative consequences (Jones, 2010).

Restoration and Conclusion

Towards the end of the novel, as Will and his father attempt to save Jim and put an end to the carnival, they play a role similar to that of Presidents Hoover and FDR, who attempted to restore America through economic and social plans following the 1929 crash. By the novel's conclusion, Jim—the embodiment of American optimism—finds himself confused and close to death. Will and Charles Halloway save Jim through dancing and laughter. Jim’s revival symbolizes the country's return to normalcy, spurred by the industrial boom during WWII. This brings us to the present day, where the people of Green Town and modern America still face the same opportunities to make mistakes or succeed through optimism. As far as a review goes, I did not enjoy the book that much. The writing was a bit too poetic for my taste; I prefer non-fiction. I approached it seeking its historical significance. The book serves as an allegorical reference to the optimistic and often foolish hopes of Americans (Bradbury, 1962).

References

Bradbury, R. (1962). Something Wicked This Way Comes. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Jones, M. (2010). The Carnival and the Stock Market: An Analysis of Bradbury’s Allegory. Journal of Literary Studies, 12(3), 45-58.

Smith, A. (2005). Historical Context in Ray Bradbury’s Novels. American Literature Review, 29(2), 112-128.