My class is doing a presentation on the martain chronicles and we each have a story out of it to present. I am presenting "The third expedition." I was wondering, for my presentation, is the character "Captain John Black" based on Ray Bradbury? Because I noticed that the character had the same birthday and same birthplace as Ray bradbury. I was just wondering so I could present this information.

I don't know. That's an interesting observation that I hadn't noticed. Maybe one of the real experts will be able to comment on that.

I hope someone does soon. This is due on tuesday.

I don't know of any source that tells us that Bradbury specifically modeled Captian John Black on himself, but your observation that the birthday and birthplace are the same would lead one to believe it is a strong possibility.

What you have to look at, in talking about the story is what kind of man is Captain Black. If you want to make (or justify) the claim that it's based on Ray himself, then you have to take what you've shown about Captain Black and show that that is similar to Ray Bradbury.

What characteristics are most prominent in evaluating the kind of person Captain Black is? I have to run out the door, but let me give you my preliminary take. Perhaps some thoughts are better than none.

(1) Captain Black's focus in all major decisions is logic. He wants reason to determine the decisions he makes. For him, reason is safe, as it delivers you from the fluctuations of emotion. In every major decision he uses reason. The one time he doesn't (when he trusts in his brother and family) he is destroyed. Reason almost saved him, but it came too late.

At the end of the day, the text reads as follows:

"He lay peacefully, letting his thoughts float. For the first time the stress of the day was moved aside; he could think logically now. It had all been emotion."

When he laid aside emotion, he could then think logically. For him, logic and emotion are mutually exclusive. They can't co-exist.

(2) Along these same lines, Captain Black asks philosophical questions as a way of getting at the truth. These questions allow him to put events into perspective and logically analyze whether or not they make sense. If they don't make sense, there is a problem; If they make sense, he can rest assured that he is safe.

"How? he wondered. How was all this made? And why? For what purpose? Out of the goodness of some divine intervention? Was God, then, really that thoughtful of his children? How and Why and What for? He considered the various theories advanced in the first heat of the afternoon by Hinkston and Lustig. He let all kinds of new theories drop in lazy pebbles down through his mind, turning, throwing out dull flashes of light."

His use of words like "How?" "Why?" "What For?" all lend credence to the idea that he is philosophically oriented. Things have to make sense for him. He also looks at the various theories. What this indicates is another philosophical turn of mind where he looks at the attempt to put ideas together into meaningful systems of thought to see if all the parts of the theory actually hold up in as systematic way. Again, philosophical thinking.

In addition, the fact that he is willing to challenge assumptions and definitions and is also willing to consider new ideas and possibilities is another evidence of a philosophical mindset.

(3) He is not a cold machine. He feels love, he is in tune with his emotions. He is a man who relies on reason, but knows how to love. The Martians are able to use that emotion to kill him, by lulling his reason into a more passive role.

I hope some of this helps. Sorry it is all I can contribute at this point.