Concordia University ENG4U 12 the pedestrian. - Critical Analysis Essay On a Short Story Erin Tennant The Pedestrian As technology continues to grow the question is no longer how

As technology continues to grow, the question is no longer how technology will take over. It is
now that when technology will take over, citizens will be left with nothing. We will continue to figure out
ways to remain superior. In ‘The Pedestrian’ by Ray Bradbury, the desolate and barren setting is used to
portray how lonely and deserted cities will be when technology controls the human population. This short
story expresses resilience through the protagonist Leonard Mead an outcast of his own society, by
demonstrating the problems with an overly dependent technological society that’s blind to the ill effects
of technology, lacks ingenuity and has become conformed by the government through the use of the
technology they are dependant on. Using the archetypal lens and the socio-economic lens, let us analyze
the concept of resilience in ‘The Pedestrian’.
To begin, Leonard’s house is seen as a symbol of rebellion, hope, individuality, and difference.
Leonard Mead does not support the utopian society, which he resides in. He walks outside every night to
get fresh air and to enjoy a relaxing walk while other people in his neighbourhood would simply rather
indulge in technology and stay at home. During one of his walks, he notices a flicker of lights coming
from the houses he passes by and states, “Hello, in there, what’s​ ​up tonight on Channel 4, Channel 7,
Channel 9? Where are the cowboys rushing,​ ​and do I see the United States Cavalry over​ ​the next hill to
the rescue?”(Bradbury) He even says that despite him going on walks for ten years and walking thousands
of miles, he has never come across another person. His mockery of them and the fact nobody is outside
proved that everyone has become dependent on technology and lost their own lust for life. Also, during
his police car ride, his house is the only house lit up in his entire neighbourhood. These luminous lights
symbolize Leonard’s enlightenment and difference. His neighbours all have a dull, dreary glow, radiating
from viewing screens. His house is also a symbol of knowledge and realization. Since his house is the
only one lit up in his neighbourhood, this shows knowledge, as it isn’t lit up by a television screen.
Leonard is aware of the negative impact that this utopian society has created by keeping everyone in their
homes. With his knowledge, he continues to think and use his imagination so he doesn’t fall into society’s
trap. If a person in this society saw his house with the lights on, it would strike them as being odd. It
could cause them to think for themselves and be curious. Thinking and being curious is frowned upon in
Leonard’s society. By simply seeing the lights on in Leonard’s house, one could become enlightened and
question the government and technology as a whole