The Pedestrian is a short story written by Ray Bradbury, who is known for his works in science fiction, horror, and mystery. The story takes place in the year 2053, a society now dominated by television. People only go out during the day, but when night arrives every one goes back into their house, glued to the TV, not a single person outside when it becomes dark. It has become such a regular routine that the police force has declined sharply, where only one car patrols... in a city of 3 million. Leonard Mead, the main character of the story, does not own a television, instead he likes to take the time at night to walk around outside, often for many miles. In the story it is described that Leonard Mead whispers to the houses as he passes them by, king the houses questions like "What's up tonight on Channel 4? Channel 7?" From the very little information the reader knows about the character, one might imagine him as a lonely man, slightly insane man, only because nobody is "supposed" to come outside at night. He has probably lost touch with reality, or at least what is considered reality now, in 2053.
This short story can be considered as a dystopia for several reasons. I've noticed that a lot of stories set in the future often have a totalitarian government--controlling everything anyone does, public or private. Even from reading the first couple sentences of the story, the setting is very clear. "To put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your way, hands in pockets, through the silences." The grass has not been cut in a long time, growing onto the sidewalk, and there has not been any magazines or books published in years. All source of information and entertainment is on the TV now.
While on his night walk Leonard could imagine himself standing "in a plain, windless Arizona desert, with no house for a thousand miles." There is lots of visual imagery in this relatively short story. I can get a clear view of how Leonard feels, and what he sees, and imagines. He is approached the the single police car in the city for being suspicious, (even though he has been taking his daily walks for about 8 years). The police, with a "metallic" voice, is a robotic police car. He is questioned, then told to get into the back of the police car. He is going to be taken to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies. What once used to be normal for every body both day and night, (such as driving, walking) has now become a "crime" or controversy only because the government wants society to stay off the streets at night, and to watch television.
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