Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, a collection of poignant vignettes about one summer in the life of 12-year old Douglas Spaulding, is a powerful mirror into childhood, growing up, and life in general. Bradbury, generally considered one of the Grand Masters of science fiction, did not in fact write science fiction. While his books and stories had some of the overtones of science fiction, their themes went much deeper than simple space opera or shoot-'em-up action. His books were often quite surrealistic and were very emotional. (Wolfheim 42) Critiquing Bradbury is difficult as it dulls the fantasy, and it is usually better to concentrate on what Bradbury himself wrote rather than archetypally analyze the book to truly enjoy and understand his fantasy. (Bradford 69) In Dandelion Wine, Bradbury's deeper themes mainly have to do with the world of inner feelings of fantasy and the soul. Three sets of opposite characteristics that have a strong influence over feelings and the soul contribute to the depth and character of Dandelion Wine: life and death, heaven and hell, and the past and the future.
Ray Bradbury
Photo of Ray Bradbury.
bradburyThe themes of life and death become entwined with raw fantasy in Dandelion Wine. One of the first experiences of young Douglas Spaulding is to realize that the pure, unbridled energy, emotion, and fantasy of the summer make him truly alive. (Bradford 69) The pure, unadulterated fantasy of life and joy in Dandelion Wine gives a more than magical feeling to the book and leaves the reader wishing that he or she lived in this world. (Bradford 69) One of the reasons that the fantasy of Dandelion Wine is so appealing is that Bradbury masterfully crafts the expressions of fantasy that everyone takes part in, such as dreams and the inner world of the mind, into a recognizable...