The Pedestrian - ICSE Class 10

Meet the Author

• Ray Douglas Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter, one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers.
• Best Known For: He is known for his fanciful imagination, poetic prose, horror genres, and mature understanding of human relationships.

Summary of the Chapter

‘The Pedestrian’ by Ray Bradbury is a dystopian short story that chronicles an event unfolding on a single night in the life of Leonard Mead. He is a resident of the unnamed city of the future, consisting of three million people. The author humorously represents the future count of the human population of an unimaginably large city.

On one frigid November evening, Mead leaves his house at 8 pm for a solitary walk. He treads along the concrete pavements and occasionally traverses along the uneven edges of the grassy patches. He cherishes his walk with so much conviction that it could last up to even 4 hours. This reveals how much he embraces freedom and choice. At a crossroads, he takes a moment to ponder which direction to proceed. But being companionless, he decides which route might be the most appropriate.

On his chosen path, he describes how his warm breath can be seen in the cold air, resembling someone puffing a cigar.

As he strolls, he observes the homes of their citizens who are inside, lulling themselves with television viewing. The dark, empty windows appear to him as quiet graveyards. The faint glimmer of light from the windows appears reminiscent of distant fireflies. He addresses the people inside as lifeless and passive shadowy people trapped in the tomb, a grave-like atmosphere of the houses.

Sudden gray phantom seemed to manifest upon inner room walls where a curtain was still undrawn against the night, or there were whisperings and murmurs where a window in a tomblike building was still open.

Whenever he overhears any sound from the houses, he pauses for a moment, tilting his head to grab the attention of the faint noises before moving on. Hence, he switches his sports shoes from his previously worn high-heeled shoes to mitigate the distinct sound it generates. But the clatter of the shoe startles the stray dogs, which would bark and chase him. This unusual sight of walking alone in the deserted city prompts the neighbors to be uncertain and inquisitive as they turn on the lights. This proves how conformist the society is. Instead, Mead chooses defiance and nonconformity to preserve his solitude and individuality.

Mead heads west towards a hidden sea within the frosty air that ignites like a fire burning and extinguishing in his chest. This view appears to him similar to the flickering lights of a Christmas tree. This vivid imagery depicts the beauty of nature overpowering Meads's thoughts. It also adds a layer of satisfaction to the Christmas allusion.

As he passes each house, he wonders to himself, whispering if either 4, 7, or 9 channels were telecasted. He speculates about a cowboy drama where they are destined to. Alternatively, if they telecasted anything related to the military rescue, he muses if he could see the soldiers climb the hills. He ponders over whether they telecasted a comedy play or an adventure.

This proves he longs for real communication but doesn't find it possible. He convinces himself that he has chosen an entirely different path that encompasses imagination, solitude, and connection to nature. The author describes the streets of the city as similar to the Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles, the road beneath consisting of a dry riverbed.

The street was silent and long and empty, with only his shadow moving like the shadow of a hawk in midcountry. If he closed his eyes and stood very still, frozen, he could imagine himself upon the center of a plain, a wintry, windless Arizona desert with no house, in a thousand miles, and only dry river beds, the streets, for company.

Mead hears a faint sound from one house and continues walking. Despite a decade of evening walks, he has never encountered another person on his route. This represents a recurring pattern of noncompliance and defiance of social norms.

Mead reaches an intersection shaped like a cloverleaf. During the daytime, the thunderous surge of cars seemed to look like insects rustling towards something. However, at night they are devoid of cars and the city is dormant and lifeless resulting in pervasive dehumanization.

As Mead reverts towards his home, he encounters a police car that pulls up and stops him. The flashing light in contrast to the obscurity of the night ambiance and a computerized voice demands Mead to freeze and raise his hands. He instructs a warning that his failure to comply with the rules could result in being shot. Due to the low crime rate, the author reveals that there is just one police car.

The police car is portrayed as a harsh, inhuman device as it interrogates Mead in an unpleasant metallic voice. It inquires about his name and profession. Mead replies that he was a writer but not anymore. The metallic voice sounds dismissive, as writing wasn't a real profession in the future. Mead explains that writing has become obsolete for him as everyone onwards are glued to their televisions. It reflects that people who view television as just specters with just the light reflecting on their faces, but their minds are absent.

The car interrogates Mead about his presence outside. The metallic voice reiterates Mead's statement that he has no profession. Mead explains that he was merely walking, noting that his face felt cold. The peculiar voice inquires where he is walking and why. Mead responds that he was walking out for fresh air and to observe the surroundings. Following that it inquires about his home life and address. Mead replies to it by stating it was Eleven South Saint James Street. The voice remarks if he gets air at home through the air conditioner and Mead agrees. Then, the voice asks if he has a television screen, to which Mead replies no. Upon hearing this, the car emits a crackling sound to imply imagery of violence and an accusatory tone. It establishes that he doesn't belong to society and fails to comply with the social norms.

The voice explains that if he needed fresh air, he could get it from the air conditioner and if he wanted to look around he could view the television screens from inside the home. The voice then questions if he is married to which he replies no. Mead adds that no one has ever wanted to marry him. The police insist he speaks only when asked. The police car repeatedly asks the same question if he came out for walking only. Mead answers yes, but the voice seemed discontented for not reasoning out properly. He assures that he has been walking for ten years to get fresh air to look at and wander around. He finally asks if the interrogation is over, and the voice confirms that it is.

There is a sound of deep breath followed by the back door of the car opening that orders Mead to get in. He resists protesting that he has done nothing wrong. Despite his protests, he is forced to enter the car. The interior smells of soldered steel and reminds him of a jail cell.

He put his hand to the door and peered Into the back seat, which was a little cell, a little black jail with bars. It smelled of riveted steel. It smelled of harsh antiseptic ; it smelled too clean and hard and metallic. There was nothing soft there.

Mead inquires about his destination, and the car hesitates with a slight whirring and clicking sound as if revamping a card. The voice announces that he is being victimized and taken to a psychiatric center, considering his behavior inconsistent with his age and exhibiting regressive tendencies. He willingly accepts that he is powerless in the face of state authority, indicating the police car.

The car passes by numerous dark houses until they reach a brightly lit home, each window illuminated with a vibrant yellow light. Mead helplessly finds out his house, but the uncaring voice does not respond. The car drives past the empty lanes, portraying dry riverbeds, resembling imagery of silence, coldness, and emptiness on a November night.

The story revolves around Leonard embarking on his regular evening stroll, which he has practiced for several years. This makes him stand out as a solitary pedestrian who appreciates the isolation of the outside world. Hence, “The Pedestrian” is a title that is most justified for the story.

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