Although Ray Bradbury has created many engaging narratives, a particularly intriguing text written by the author is There Will Come Soft Rains. The story concentrates on a house that, hour by hour, performs various duties to serve its inhabitants (Bradbury, n.d.). Nonetheless, the reader gradually realizes that there are no human beings in and out of the home, and the building is left to benefit no one and withstand against nature (Bradbury, n.d.). Eventually, the residence is destroyed by a falling tree bough that causes a fire to start (Bradbury, n.d.). The main focus of There Will Come Soft Rains is not a person but rather a house that has a unique identity, which can be seen through setting, conflict, plot twists, character traits, and events.
Instead of offering a perspective of an alive creature, Ray Bradbury’s short story concentrates on the viewpoint of a home. As suggested in lines 13-14 and 120-124, the setting is on August 4, 2026, in Allendale, California, in the residence of the McClellans (Bradbury, n.d.). In the listed passages, the narrative’s scene is indicated by the house, which states the date and place through the kitchen ceiling and later asks Mrs. McClellan about a poem for the evening (Bradbury, n.d.). Furthermore, the author displays several unexpected developments that exhibit the story’s emphasis on the home. For instance, lines 39-40 declare that the house is the only one left standing amidst “rubble and ashes” (Bradbury, n.d.). The writer presents the building at the center of a conflict between what is left of humankind, the smart residence, and nature. For example, verses 60-62 describe the house not allowing a bird to touch it, while lines beginning from 145 and forward illustrate the home dying from fire (Bradbury, n.d.). Accordingly, the story’s setting, plot twists, and conflict can be evaluated as compelling in implying that the focus is on the residence.
Although There Will Come Soft Rains has an object as its main character, the protagonist has a unique identity that is shown through different traits and events. The author unravels the home’s personality and physical appearance by depicting various incidents. In lines 5-12, the building is portrayed as caring for its inhabitants as it tries to wake people up and prepare breakfast (Bradbury, n.d.). In verses 13-17, the residence is shown as responsible due to announcing the important occasions of the day (Bradbury, n.d.). Lines 55-63 illustrate the house being previously peaceful but now behaving in “an old-maidenly preoccupation” when it attempts to protect itself from nature (Bradbury, n.d.). Although the home drives animals away, verse 65 describes how it recognizes the gone family’s dog, indicating memory (Bradbury, n.d.). Moreover, some events demonstrate the building’s physical features as if they were qualities of a living creature. For instance, in lines 175-178, while the residence is burning, the author implies that it has bones, a skeleton, and nerves (Bradbury, n.d.). The story’s description of the qualities and happenings can be evaluated as persuasive in placing the central point on the home.
To conclude, the main character of There Will Come Soft Rains is not a person but a house with a unique personality shown through the story’s setting, conflict, plot twists, character traits, and events. The building talks to announce the narrative’s scene, is at the core of unexpected developments, and directly participates in the battle with nature as the final representation of humankind. Moreover, different happenings reveal the residence’s features, like having bones that are burning and being caring while preparing breakfast for its inhabitants. There Will Come Soft Rains is an intriguing story, the protagonist of which is a house.
Reference
Bradbury, R. (n.d). There Will Come Soft Rains. Web.