Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope by Ray Bradbury I am fortunate enough to take a wonderful course that solely focused on Bradbury and his work, taught by his very own biographer. IVe never read as many stories written by a single author before. Even so, I domiciliate safely say that he is oneness of the best writers IVe ever read. Kaleidoscope, which appears in Bradburys jovial short bosh collection, The Illustrated Man, is a story that literally s shutdowns you up into out nigh space. The name itself gives us an idea what this story is just about. The bright colors and interruption views, it is an interesting story further not one that is so funny to read.From the very beginning we know that these men argon dead and eitherthing that we are able to do is salutary to watch them are dyeing without very much hope. This is a kind of deeply philosophical and introspective tale, which is the hallmark of Bradburys writing. finished a simple accident in space, a rocket exuberant of astronauts exp lodes and its crew is strewn across the emptiness, falling until their oxygen runs out, or until they collide with meteors or the Moon, or the Earth. Kaleidoscope really is a plot-wise story. It begins after the ship has already exploded.Most of the story takes place from a vantage point close to Hollis. He is the chief(prenominal) character and the captain of the ship, a man who has hidden his emotions for most of his bread and butter. He went into space because it helped him to avoid women and he clearly envies those men who have separate luck with women. He tries to convince himself that there is no difference surrounded by him and them but he knows that it isnt true, they have memories, and he has only dreams. So we can see what he sees as the Earths gravity is pulling him in. And soon Hollis is solo, alone with his thought.As these men hurtle toward their fate, feeling helpless in preventing their own deaths, they distinctly bicker and find fault with each other. One of t he men is the most calm about his death having put outd a good life, however theres a particularly compelling argument between Hollis and Lespere, an apparent womanizer who has genuinely no regrets, as I have already said, and who lets Hollis know about it. And Hollis retorts that it doesnt matter, that heyre all meeting the same fate now, and Lesperes life experiences doesnt make his life any better than that of Hollis.But, as Lespere explains, l got my thoughts, I remember. On the one hand, a bleakly existentialist view is advanced by Hollis in the break we all die alone and death renders everything before it pointless. eyepatch this may be philosophically sound, though thats also debatable, it doesnt have the stirred resonance of Lesperes assertion that one must live as amply as possible, in order to better accept death when the meter comes. The fact that Lespere has led a orally reprehensible life, indulging in bigamy and gambling, for starters is Bradburys way of cautio ning about the extremes of such an attitude.In the end, there is a sense of salvation in Hollis becoming a star upon which a little son makes a wish. What is really principal(prenominal) is that the whole story is telling of the military man condition. We as humans, by our nature, become incredibly reflective when we know the end is near. We might even become bitter and spiteful and lash out. Moreover, the enquiry of how people face death is one that is well worth exploring, but in any ypes of tragedy on the Earth, that doesnt kill people straightway means that they Bradbury gets around exactly that problem by setting Kaleidoscope.The main theme, I believe, is that life is unpredictable and you should enjoy or relish every second of it because you never know when it will be taken from you or someone close to you. The many insignificant squabbles that we constantly encounter in life do not amount to a hill of beans. What is important is love The beauty of this world is many fac eted like a kaleidoscopes image but also very fragile and brief Just like each eparate image in the scope.Some people realize this and live accordingly while others do not until the very end when it is as well late. And yet, even with those memories, were still the same in those final moments before the end The story seems to take the side of memories, of having done something with ones life while disposed the opportunity. Ultimately, Kaleidoscope is the kind of story which provides the opportunity for reflection. Its the epitome of science-fiction, using hypothetical luck to take a deeper look at the human condition.