Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} I Sing the Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury I Sing the Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury
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Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} I Sing the Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury I Sing the Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury. "I Sing The Body Electric" Director(s): James Sheldon and William F. Claxton Writer: Ray Bradbury Main Characters: Narrator: Rod Serling Grandmother: Josephine Hutchinson Father/George Rogers: David White. Analysis: "I Sing the Body Electric" is a very atypical episode of The Twilight Zone. It is the only episode of the series that was written by Ray Bradbury, which may account for some of the differences seen in the story. This is the only episode during the third season, which features a narrative from Rod Serling in the middle of the episode. It still had the traditional beginning and ending narrative seen in all The Twilight Zone episodes, but the addition of the middle narrative was unique to this episode. This was not the only structural difference featured in this episode. The typical twist ending is not present. There is still a a turning point in the episode, but it is when Anne finally grows to accept Grandma into her life. Normally, the turning point or twist in a The Twilight Zone episode is when we discover the truth behind what is happening and when we discover that what seemed to be the truth was actually just a smoke screen. "I Sing the Body Electric" features some very traditional aspects of science fiction. It is about robots, which was not only one of the most common themes used by The Twilight Zone writers, but in science fiction literature in general. The robot in this episode can be compared to Isaac Asimov's robots. Since Grandma is there to help the family, it is obvious that she is following the Three Rules of Robotics, which were constructed by Asimov. The incident in which Grandma risks her own life to save Anne's, is very similar to what happens in "Robbie"(1939), one of Asimov's first robot stories. This episode does not feature the typical moral lesson at the end of the episode. Grandma did not harm the family in anyway, and there was nothing to be learned from her presence in the house. It was actually a very positive story. Not only were the children given a figure in their life that could take care of them, but the addition of this technology improved their lives. This happy ending was not often seen in episodes of The Twilight Zone. Director: Ida Lupino Writer: Rod Serling Main Characters: Narrator: Rod Serling Dying man/Jason Foster: Robert Keith. Analysis: "The Masks" is considered by man people to be one of the better episodes of The Twilight Zone ever made. In contrast to "I Sing the Body Electric," it features all the traditional aspects of a The Twilight Zone episode. While Jason Foster's coming death seems at first to be the main theme of the episode, a greater, more important theme is the presence of Voodoo magic and the commentary Serling is making about the beauty of people being on the inside. "The Masks" takes place on the eve of Mardi Gras, which is very important to the story line. Mardi Gras and New Orleans are traditionally know for being heavily rooted in Voodoo magic. Mardi Gras celebrations are often times when people have to wear masks, and while the masks Foster provides for his family are extremely hideous, it would not seem completely inappropriate for masks with Voodoo powers to be what ultimately provides the twist ending in this episode. The Twilight Zone episodes were known for their twist endings. While watching "The Masks," the viewer is expecting something to happen, but it is very unclear as to what the importance of the actual masks will be. At many times, the audience is lead to believe that a member of the family is going to remove their masks early, costing them their fortune, and that some twist will come after that. Only within the last few minutes of the episode is it actually clear what the purpose of those masks were. This is very typical of The Twilight Zone. By not revealing the truth behind the storyline until the very end of the episode, the audience is left in surprise. They are forced to process everything on their own, since nothing more in the episode is there to answer their questions. This is exactly what Rod Serling wanted; for his viewers to think about what they just saw. It is impossible to just stop wondering if what Foster did was justified or just cruel, or whether or not the family could have presented this fate, which is one of the reasons this is considered to be one of the better episodes of the series. You're Entitled to My Opinion. I’m decidedly not a Hemingway fan. But it’s easy enough to see Bradbury was and he shows us how much he treasured Hemmingway’s works. It’s not hard to see the unnamed main character as a psychopomp, delivering Hemingway’s soul to Heaven as he would know it. The Terrible Conflagration up at the Place Revolutionaries in Ireland set out to burn their lord’s manor house, but they forget the matches. When they arrive, the lord of the manor invites them in. They inform him of their intent, quite politely and he agrees to allow the burning. He asks the sackers if they will spirit away his art collection for safe keeping. They agree and take off with the paintings. A few hours later, they return. There were echoes of Mark Twain in this story, but the end was wholly unsatisfying. While there was a fair amount of humorous irony in the story, the climax, as it was, completely lacked in humor or irony. Tomorrow’s Child The Horn’s have a baby and that baby is a blue pyramid with three eyes and six tentacles. Their baby, the doctor informs the Horns, was born into another dimension. This baby belongs in that dimension. While the doctors work feverishly for months to figure out how to get the babies back to their proper dimensions, the Horns raise the “child.” Finally, the day comes when the doctors have it all figured out. The tale is so improbable that it is interesting. The opening paragraph is so matter of fact, much like Gregor Samsa in Metamorphosis. The Women A couple lounges on the beach on the final day of their vacation. The woman senses that a presence in the ocean beckons to her husband, trying to lure him into the water. She tries every delaying tactic she can think of to keep him out of the water. When it starts to rain, she thinks she’s won. But the lure of the blue water proves too much. This was a story of atmosphere and stirring words more than plot. There was very little plot to it. It does demonstrate Bradbury’s ability to weave moods with the language. Beautiful. The Inspired Chicken Motel It’s 1932 and the Great Depression is raging. A family of four is traveling down Route 66 to look for a job and some prosperity. They stop at a fleabag motel where they find a chicken who lays eggs with inscriptions very much like fortune cookies. The family leaves the hotel with new found hope mixing with cynical skepticism. This story was mildly entertaining. It would seem in this book that Bradbury is trying much harder for rye humor than any serious science fiction. Downwind from Gettysburg The manager of a theater is alarmed when someone puts a bullet into the head of his animatronic figure of Abraham Lincoln. The modern assassin is also named Booth, although he has a different first name. The theater manager confronts the assassin and listens to his lame excuse for destroying the robot. Then the manager tells Mr. Booth the real reason for the crime and ends his hopes for glory. A writer on Huffington Post compared this story to the vainglorious father of the notorious “Balloon Boy” event several years ago when the father contrived to have his young son become ”trapped” in a hot air balloon with the hopes of getting a reality show out of the deal. My own thoughts went to Mark David Chapman who killed John Lennon for the sheer glory of doing it. Downwind from Gettysburg was made into an episode of The Ray Bradbury Theater . Yes, We’ll Gather at the River The residents of a small California town are just a day away from a harsh reality. A new interstate highway is going to open tomorrow and with it take the traffic local merchants rely on for commerce. A cigar store owner ponders his bleak future and that of the town. This story tells of an all but forgotten chapter in American history. When construction began on the interstate highway system in the 1950s, millions of motorists were moved away from secondary roads and the small towns where they bought gas, bought lunch, and sundry items. Many towns “missed” by the highways died. This beautiful and touching story brings that era to life very much reminiscent of Steinbeck. Cold Wind and the Warm A group of faerie people arrive in small town Ireland and make friends with the regulars of a small pub. They charm and entertain the pub patrons with songs and stories of how disparate people come together to become one people. One Irishmen gentleman discerns the faeries true nature and purpose. I really struggled with this story and did not like it at all.