Ray Bradbury Forums
October Country

This topic can be found at:
https://raybradburyboard.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3791083901/m/2921095901

17 April 2002, 12:30 PM
ambermarie84
October Country
I REALLY REALLY need help!!!! I am doing my OAC independant research paper on Ray Bradbury's short stories from the October Country. I need examples of the theme "Outcasts in Society". I have already used examples from the Dwarf and The Next In Line but, I need at least 2 more. If anyone can give me some more examples or tell me some good websites or the names of books that might be helpful, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!
17 April 2002, 01:18 PM
olwiggum
You could use Charlie from "The Jar". The reason that he buys it is so that people will look up to him. He says that people have made fun of him all of his life...
17 April 2002, 11:49 PM
crumley
Members of The Family ("Homecoming", "Uncle Einar" etc.) are most certainly outcasts from 'normal' society. Note how Uncle John threatens to expose the Family in "The Traveler".
Also, Timothy in "Homecoming" is something of an outcast within the 'society' of The Family.
Many of the stories in OCTOBER COUNTRY have at their core characters who are in one way or another marginalised/alienated. "The Dwarf" and "The Scythe" are other examples.
18 April 2002, 02:45 AM
dandelion
How did you manage to miss "The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse," the main character of which brings "desperate for attention" to a whole new level!
18 April 2002, 10:41 AM
SethD105
In the story The Illustrated Man, he is needled by his wife by his poundage, to do something for a new profession, then ridiculed by her by this new absurdity. Publicly put on display to be viewed. In an odd prophesy of the dust witches pictures predictions of his inner most rage, to the eventual ironic vengance from the very odd side show of his peers!
How bad can it get overweight, poked, gawked at, and deflated!