Literature Photo Project

The short story, “Marionettes, Inc.,” written by Ray Bradbury, is about a man named Braling, who had paid for an illegal clone identical to himself. The reader learns that Braling had purchased the clone in order to go on his dream vacation to Rio de Janeiro and prevent any further disruption to his failing marriage. Early in the short story, the reader is introduced to Braling’s good friend Smith, who is the first to know about Braling’s big secret of owning an identical clone. Braling convinces Smith to purchase a clone for himself by offering him a card to the company, “Marionettes, Inc.;” in doing so, Smith goes home, only to find out his wife had already purchased a clone that he had been living with for the past five months. Braling, unaware of this, returns home to hide his identical clone, but instead of the clone cooperating, the clone confesses his love for Braling’s wife and resists to go back into his box. The short story ends with the real Braling trapped within the clone’s box and someone kissing Mrs. Braling affectionately.

The Literature Photo Project, assigned in class, was to be done in pairs or individuals. The task was to find thirteen quotes from a short story chosen by preference, that would then be matched with the given literary terms. The quotes were to be explained accordingly to the terms and a photo depicting the quotes was to be attached below the quote and explanation. The project would then need to be uploaded to Edublog.

Exposition 

“They walked slowly down the street at about ten in the evening, talking calmly. They were both about thirty-five, both eminently sober” (Bradbury 1).

The short story begins with an illustration of two men in their mid-thirties walking down a street in the evening noting that they are, for the most part, sober. The tone of the story is set in a neighbourhood or city, judging by the time and the casualty of this sentence. The indication that the characters are both, “eminently sober,” provides some background as to what they may have been doing prior to the short story’s exposition. This is the minimal amount of information given to the reader as an introduction to the short story.

Rising Action Example #1

“Smith staggered back and fluttered his eyelids, appalled. He reached out and touched the warm hands and the cheeks of the thing. ‘Where’d you get him?’ ‘Isn’t he excellently fashioned?’ [Braling replied]” (Bradbury 1).

The following statement provides the reader with an idea of where the short story is heading. The confusion and physical actions being described on behalf of Smith’s character plays a pivotal role in the rising action of the short story. Smith’s character being startled by the clone gives the reader insight on how Smith reacts later in the short story when he finds out his wife had been doing the same thing as Braling. This is the anticipation towards the plot of the short story.

Rising Action Example #2

“’Nettie, Nettie!’ [Smith] cried. ‘What’ve you done with my money!’ … he bent forward and yet forward again until his fevered ear was resting firmly and irrevocably upon her round pink bosom. ‘Nettie!’ he cried. Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick” (Bradbury 3).

Smith’s realization of his wife buying a clone, gives the reader a sense of discomfort. Not only does it make one uncomfortable, but it also sets the tone of the story. The gradual build of the plot is being developed at this point, that being the ignorance of consequences and the hypocrisy that Smith demonstrates in the following statement.

Climax

“’I’m afraid you don’t understand. I think—I’m in love with her.’ … “You’re what?” ‘And I’ve been thinking,’ said Braling Two, ‘how nice it is in Rio and how I’ll never get there, and I’ve thought about your wife and—I think we could be very happy’” (Bradbury 3).

The clone, Braling Two, is shown to develop feelings for Braling’s wife. The buildup of the story has lead to this point, showing the reader that there is something off, or rather wrong with Braling’s clone. At this point in the short story, the tone shifts to a more cynical and eerie atmosphere. The reader is left on the edge of a seat, wondering what will happen next. This is the peak of intensity within the story and grabs the reader’s attention.

Falling Action

“Braling Two said, ‘I’m going to put you in the box, lock it, and lose the key” (Bradbury 4).

Shortly after Braling Two confesses his love for Mr. Braling’s wife, the reader is shown that the clone has malfunctioned completely. The intentions of the clone shine through, and it is revealed that the robot has feelings, and is capable of more than meets the eye. The following statement provides evidence of Braling Two’s many capabilities. This is the action that occurs just before the ending.

Denouement (conclusion)

“Ten minutes later Mrs. Braling awoke. She put her hand to her cheek. Someone had just kissed it. She shivered and looked up. ‘Why – you haven’t done that in years,’ she murmured. ‘We’ll see what we can do about that,’ someone said” (Bradbury 4).

After Braling is trapped inside the clone’s box, Braling Two is illustrated as the perfect husband to Braling’s wife and acts as if he is the real Mr. Braling. The last sentence, “’We’ll see what we can do about that,’ someone said” (Bradbury 4), indicates that the clone is a stranger and the reader is left confused as to what happens next. This is the final result of the short story and has no further context.

Physical Setting

“The street door of the apartment opened” (Bradbury 1).

The description of the setting is ideal in making the story enjoyable; it provides a background and picture created in the reader’s mind. The indication that the story takes place on a street, let’s the reader know that the story is in a city or neighbourhood; with the additional information that it is near an apartment, giving a clear image of where the location may be in the short story.

Emotional Setting

“‘I’ve grown quite fond of her.’ ‘I’m glad you’re enjoying your employment.’ Braling licked his lips nervously” (Bradbury 3).

The indication that “Braling licked his lips nervously,” tells the reader that Braling is gaining an understanding of his situation and what may follow next (Bradbury 3). Braling obviously fears the machine he once thought he knew. The description of the emotional setting paints a picture for the reader to understand the atmosphere and mood of the story; without this, the story would be boring and dull.

Conflict Type

“Braling Two gestured irritably. ‘And when you come back from having a good time, back in the box I go’” (Bradbury 3).

This argument displays the conflict type, person vs. machine. Braling begins to realize the clone he had bought for selfish purposes, is now turning on himself; the machine shows jealousy and discomfort living with the real Braling and begins to develop real feelings for Braling’s wife. The purpose of including a conflict type is to create tension within the short story and make the reader interested and uncertain of what may happen next.

Ending type

“‘Now, now, wait a minute. Hold on. Don’t be rash. Let’s talk this over!’ ‘Good-by, Braling’” (Bradbury 4).

The short story ends with an abrupt conclusion, making the reader want to know more. The ending type used was a cliffhanger, leaving the short story unresolved with many unanswered questions. The benefit of using an ending type, such as a cliffhanger, is that it makes the reader intrigued and allows one to do nothing but question the possibilities of where the short story could go.

Irony Example

“Braling Two said, ‘I’m going to put you in the box, lock it, and lose the key. Then I’ll buy another Rio ticket for your wife’” (Bradbury 4).

The expectation of the short story is that the reader would be able to see Braling get away with cloning himself and going to Rio for a vacation; however, Braling Two would not let this happen which was not expected by the reader, nor Braling. This type of ending is called situational irony, the purpose of this particular irony is to create a plot twist or catch the reader off guard, making the story much more interesting.

Suspense

“‘And another thing. Your wife.’ ‘What about her?’ asked Braling, beginning to edge toward the door. ‘I’ve grown quite fond of her’” (Bradbury 3).

In the midst of the story, the reader is completely unaware that Braling Two had real feelings; this statement leaves the reader with a sense of unpredictability of what the clone may do next. The suspense builds higher and higher nearing the end of the short story, only for the reader to find out the real Braling is trapped in the clone’s box, and someone is showing affection to the real Braling’s wife. The use of suspense leaves the reader captivated in the outcome, which Bradbury clearly demonstrates within this short story.

Characterization Example

“‘I’ll never get to go to Rio,’ said the other man. ‘Have you thought of that?’” (Bradbury 3).

The story indirectly tells the reader there is something off about Braling’s clone. Braling Two is illustrated to appear jealous, which a robot should not have control over; this suggests to the reader that the clone is suspicious, bitter and possibly distrustful of the real Braling. The indirect and direct characterizations of a character provide a background to the personality or attributes one may have in a story, giving the reader a better understanding of who is good or bad.