Introduction
The events illustrated in stories of the science fiction genre occur in a world that is in many ways different from reality. Nevertheless, through the clever use of literary elements, such as character development, setting, and symbolism, authors are able to connect their stories to the real world. Through such reflections, sometimes apparent and sometimes hidden, they hyperbolize the context, thus creating a contrast in the readers’ eyes.
Character Development
The character development element might be science fiction’s most substantial reality reflector. As in real life, characters of fictional stories are individuals with defined personalities and specific traits. Consequently, the changes these characters undergo throughout the story can be considered essential in conveying the author’s message. Understanding that their occurrence is possible without adding any fictional elements is vital. However, fiction allows for amplifying the reasons behind character development.
In Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder,” Eckles, an overconfident hunter, buys himself a trip to the past via a time machine to hunt a dinosaur. His confidence is evident at the story’s beginning when he angrily accuses his instructors of trying to scare him while signing a contract (Bradbury 57). Nevertheless, his boldness slowly evaporates as their team ventures into the wild jungle and ultimately fails him in the dinosaur encounter, leading him to make grave mistakes. The situation is remarkably similar to when people overestimate themselves to the point that they begin to pose a danger to the people around them.
In “Harrison Bergeron,” Vonnegut took the idea of equality and elevated it to the extreme – people in his story are forcefully equalized by external means, such as masks, handicap bags, and ear radios. These measures are burdensome to their wearers – people with the potential to be better than average are not allowed to develop further. Their thought process is constantly interrupted, making the characters forget the events that occurred only a few minutes ago (Vonnegut). This way, it becomes apparent that all that glitters is not gold – societal ideals might not be as “ideal” as they appeal.
“I, Robot” contains several short stories, each has a different plot and message, and each can serve as an example. For instance, the “Robbie” story explores the topic of prejudice and discrimination, a topic that can be easily associated with contemporary societal issues. Due to the fear of robots, Mrs. Weston persuades Mr. Weston that a robot nursemaid – Robbie – is dangerous and should be taken away from their daughter (Asimov). Later, however, it is shown that only Robbie could protect the daughter from inevitable death, which refutes the prejudice in Mrs. Weston’s eyes.
Setting
Science fiction’s setting generally reflects contemporary technologies in their advanced forms, illustrating their possible effect on society. Unlike the fantasy genre, sci-fi elements have at least moderately reasonable explanations attributable to the real world, making the analogies more straightforward to comprehend and the fiction more believable. Most of the time, the story takes place in the future or an alternative universe, which is used to create contrast and highlight important details.
“A Sound of Thunder” events occur in the middle of the 21st century. By that time, according to Bradbury, humankind was able to construct a time machine and had already implemented it as a means of entertainment (59). Readers can decipher that democracy is still a preferred form of government – characters speak of presidential elections that occurred before the main events. In the end, it is uncovered that the characters’ actions had led to changes in election outcomes, and a more totalitarian leader had achieved victory. Possibly, it implies that even the most minor factors can cause an avalanche effect.
In turn, “Harrison Bergeron” looks further into the future, illustrating the events closer to the 21st century’s end. Despite the technology not representing little to no improvements – regular television and radio – the government had managed to bestow strict equalizing rules on its citizens, which indicates substantial societal shifts. Consequently, the readers are given a chance to draw their own conclusions based on the unfolding events in an attempt to answer the story’s central question of equality.
Finally, since “I, Robot” was written in the middle of the previous century, it should be considered a projection of a possible future despite its overlap with the current time. Asimov emphasizes robotics as one of the primary technological advances of human civilization and illustrates the implications of the three famous laws of robotics through the eyes of a psychologist. The co-existence of the familiar human society and robots provides various references to reality, such as issues of equality, discrimination, and change of perspective, serving as a perfect fertile ground for elaboration.
Symbolism
Not all ideas represented in science fiction possess a literal form – some of them are projected by specific symbols and indirect references. Symbolism in literature can serve various purposes that range from deepening included thoughts to increasing readers’ engagement through recognizable features. Consequently, if a symbol is correctly perceived and interpreted, the reader is able to grasp the author’s logic and better understand the story’s events.
As was mentioned earlier, Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder” explores the topic of time-traveling. In this context, the concept of the so-called “butterfly effect” belongs among the most recognizable and controversial issues. In short, it poses a question of a causal relationship between past and upcoming events – even a tiny, seemingly irrelevant factor can exponentially change the future. In the story, the factor that dramatically changes the characters’ reality is a butterfly that Eckles unintentionally stepped on in the past (Bradbury 67). This way, the author references the butterfly effect concept and explains the outcome of the illustrated time travel.
In “Harrison Bergeron,” among other tools, Vonnegut uses irony to convey his message. To further emphasize the contrast between what is expected of total equality in the real world and what is showcased in the story, the author uses the same symbol for ultimate freedom and the main control lever. As Harrison Bergeron and the ballerina freely danced together, leaping “like deer on the moon,” the same moon in the face of Diana Moon Glampers ended their freedom (Vonnegut). One possible explanation for such a substitution is highlighting this future’s wrongness.
“I, Robot” is filled with various symbols and metaphors as well. Coming back to the “Robbie” short story, the symbol of phobia – fear despite a lack of logical reasoning or clear evidence – was personified in Mrs. Weston. Consequently, this character can serve as an example of all possible phobia’s manifestations in reality. Namely, the author illustrates what emotional devastation it can bring to people, showing how inconsolable Mrs. Weston’s daughter had become in Robbie’s absence.
Conclusion
There are many ways for an author to convey his message, and fictional elements belong among them. Serving as a hyperbolized reflection of reality, they allow readers to perceive the author’s point due to the contrast it creates. For instance, character development may be caused by reasons impossible in reality. In addition, certain details of the illustrated setting may be highly exaggerated. Finally, references and concepts may be hidden in small details, a game of words, or even characters. Nevertheless, the seeming impossibility of unfolded events does not come at the expense of perception – it merely provides the readers with a comparison.
Works Cited
Bradbury, Ray. “A Sound of Thunder.” R Is for Rocket. Doubleday, 1978, 58-67.
Vonnegut, Kurt Jr. “Harrison Bergeron.”Tnellen. Web.
Asimov, Isaac. I, Robot. MacMillan Publishers, 2008.