Ray Bradbury Forums
'The Murderer'

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29 January 2007, 09:36 AM
Adam 30
'The Murderer'
in what ways are form,structure and language presented in 'The Murderer'. PLEASE NOTE: if you can give examples from text to supprot comments so I can understand were your coming from.
29 January 2007, 10:01 AM
Mr. Dark
Just curious, or hoping we'd do your homework for you?
29 January 2007, 11:35 AM
dandelion
All I know is form, structure, language, and TIMING were EVERYTHING in "The Murderer" and "Exorcism." These were two of the most hilarious stories Bradbury ever wrote in print, and so NOT FUNNY on film, at least in the "Ray Bradbury Theater" versions--I think "Exorcism" might still be very funny if done right--well, it wasn't funny.

I think about "The Murderer" fairly often since getting a cell phone. It's one thing to read the story in the 1970s with Kleenex stuffed in your ears to keep from being tortured by extraneous noise, when the thought of destroying the loudspeakers is howlingly hilarious. It's another thing to own a device you can't have imagined owning ten years ago let alone thirty, and become attached to it in ways you could never have guessed, then see some guy going down the street smashing them right and left. Painful, I believe, is the word. NOT funny!
29 January 2007, 11:53 AM
fjp451
Even more amazingly (RB works seem continually to be more current now into 50+yrs of publication) is The Murderer was in GAotS with a '53 copyright date, or thereabouts.

Though not allowed (right!?*&) activated in my classes, cell phones still go off in pockets and purses, instant messages jingle away, earplugged i-pods beetle the ears of hallway passers, and on and on and on! It is a losing battle it seems...thus The Murderer!

No tv, weii, gameboys, cells, etc. under in our domicile --so far.

The metaphor of "the bomb" (post WWII) intrinsic in The Flying Machine, yes!! Somebody asked about this theme somewhere. Was it in Q's to Mr. B? (I'll go and see.)
29 January 2007, 09:45 PM
biplane1
And to think Frank, your boys don't hate you. If there were any feelings of envy on your son's part, years later they will both thank you for making sure they have experienced the old fashion and simple aspects of life. After reading your comment I realize how ridiculous all this technology is becoming.

I took that day off from my advertising job to do taxes and my co-worker there just spent $200+ for a blackberry cell phone that even has a mouse! What's next? It will wipe your butt for you?
30 January 2007, 01:31 AM
dandelion
Be careful what you ask for, you (or someone, anyway) may get it!
30 January 2007, 04:46 AM
fjp451
Biplane, I am not sure if that luxury was included in The Veldt!