Setting In Ray Bradbury's The Pedestrian

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“The pedestrian” offers a glance into the future, where a man, Leonard Mead, goes for long walks every evening by himself. The year is 2053, and Mr. Mead is the only pedestrian near his home. He has never seen another person out walking during the many hours that he has strolled everside. He lives all by himself- he has no wife, no children and so it is a tradition for him to walk every evening. It is never said explicitly in the story, but it can be understood that he is the only, or one of the only walkers of his society. On this particular evening, a police car stops him and orders him to put his hands up. He answers a series of questions about his life and family, but his answers are unsatisfactory to the police. This car is the only remaining…show more content…
It is significant in a couple of ways. Bradbury’s setting is one in which there are no signs of human life around Leonard Mead. He walks on his own, apart from others and away from the conformist world controlled by television and established norms of acceptable behavior. The desert that he envisions is representative of how the setting is one where Leonard is on his own and apart from all social interactions. However it is this very condition of the setting that establishes the conflict. Leonards conflict with the police is brought on because Leonards behavior in the setting is unusual. He is seen as a threat because he is fundamentally different from everyone. In a world where socity is conditioned to get married, live in a suburban-like setting, watch television each night and remain inwardly driven. The setting reveals that such behavior is not accepted and that it must be removed. Leonards voice as an individual is eliminated in the setting that Bradbury offers. The “Psychiatric Center for Research” is the settings only answer for Leonard. This setting is the basis of the conflict of the story. The emptiness of the world of 2053 is definitely prominent; the atmosphere is damp, dars and miserable. The first reference to the cold sets the scene- “Misty Evening in November”. Also the car that approaches Leonard in the street is also described as being cold. Its voice was describes as “metallic” which suggests coldness and
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