In the short story “The Last Night of the World”, death is something that is not to be feared. As death rapidly approaches, the characters remain steady and calm. Instead of desperation and distress, the characters show acceptance when faced with their fate. The author proves in this passage that despite the initial fear, a peaceful and painless end is not something to despair over or try to change. The way Ray Bradbury uses conversation, metaphors, and tone in this short story is significant because it portrays the melancholic peacefulness that accompanies death when it comes at the right time.

Ray Bradbury uses conversation between the husband and wife to make the husbands main purpose clear, which was to shield his family from the horrible events about to occur. The conversation accentuates the loss the family is about to be faced with, the loss of hope and the loss of each other. The husband says, “…I didn’t say anything to you. It first happened about four nights ago." (Bradbury 20). This quote goes to show the loss of hope since he finally gives up and informs his wife of what he knows. The husband finally accepts that the end of the world is something he cannot control. It almost seems as though he had hoped his dream meant nothing, but after speaking to Stan and others at the office, it became apparent that was not the case. By keeping this from his family, it shows how much the husband cares for them since he simply wanted to protect them so they would not experience the same fear he most likely felt. When they both acknowledge the truth of their inevitable demise, a small weight is lifted from the reader’s chest knowing that the characters are able to accept what they cannot understand.

Ray Bradbury uses metaphors in this passage to describe what the end will be like, it will not be painful or violent, instead it will simply come to a close. The husband says, “…But just, let’s say, the closing of a book.” (Bradbury 16), when describing how the world will end. This is significant because of his choice of words. For example, he uses closing as opposed to an adjective such as slamming. There is almost a tone of gentleness about the way the husband and wife believe the world will end. The end of a story does not come all at once; a good end to a story dwindles down from its dramatic climax, and from there it starts to slow, solving and explaining itself to the readers. It is supposed to make sense, it is not abrupt and it does not leave readers searching for answers they will never have. For the characters in this story, they do not have the luxury of an explanation, however, there is no fear, anger, or despair. Despite the heavy circumstances the world’s population must face, there is not a desperate search for answers or a way to escape their fate. There is satisfaction instead of desperation, and the characters are content to simply put their children to bed. There is a sense of finality, but also a sense of peacefulness. They let themselves and their family slip into the closing of their book. They accept the things they cannot change and they are content with the routine of their lives. The characters in this story deem their lives acceptable enough to have nothing to fix or make up for before the world ends. Instead of viewing what should be seen as a tragedy, the characters in the text merely see it as the closing of a book. 

This short story has a powerful, gloomy tone set to it. The melancholic placidness that translates throughout the entire story is especially evident in the quote, “But just, let’s say, the closing of a book.” (Bradbury 16). This line in particular is like an anchor, the sad statement that is said in such a definite, and almost nonchalant way, is sobering to the reader because the characters do not react in the way the reader expects, or even wants them to. To the reader, this story is full of confusion and uncertainty, it is enough to make the reader desperate seeing the lack of reaction from the characters as they talk so casually about their inevitable death. When the husband says, “…Sometimes it frightens me; sometimes I’m not frightened at all but at peace” (Bradbury 18), it has a powerful effect because the fact that he can find peace while thinking about the end of their lives, goes against everything readers would expect someone to feel when the world was ending. The readers can relate to the husband being frightened, but when you think about it, it is easy to see how one could find an end like this peaceful. The husband expects their demise to be painless and easy. Instead of a spectacle, he believes their lives will simply stop. This both settles readers and makes them feel dejected because they acknowledge there is nothing the characters can do to change their fate, but they also realize the characters are okay with how their lives will end. 

 This story is one of protectiveness, a sense of hopelessness, and inevitable circumstances. The main focus of the passage I chose was of the father shielding his wife and children from the sad events of the world, a loss of hope that things will get better, but also a sense of acceptance, knowing that things will be okay despite not being what one wanted. The characters in this story have a peaceful end, it is implied in just that one passage that they will not suffer or face a violent end. The family is capable of continuing their lives as they would on a normal day, without feeling fear, desperation, or anxiety. They were happy enough with their lives to stick with their normal routine, they had no regrets and felt as though they had nothing to make up or repent for. Despite the tragic ending that looms over the reader’s head, the end provides an eerie satisfaction knowing that the characters will go peacefully in their sleep. 
