This once again places Mead at odds with his society, since writing is clearly important enough to his identity that he says it’s what he does, and yet those around him consider writing to be so irrelevant as to not exist. As the police car interrogates Mead, it first asks for his “business or profession.” Mead replies that he is a writer, which the car notes as “no profession.” The car marks “no profession” because, with television dominant, no one reads magazines or books anymore, and Mead “hadn’t written in years.” This is another nod towards this society’s erasure of a person’s sense of self: Mead cannot possibly have an occupation that he alone would appreciate, so writing-as far as the police are concerned-does not exist. When a police car stops Mead on one of his walks, Bradbury reveals the extent of Mead’s nonconformity, which goes far beyond his solitary walks. This shows how strong Mead’s sense of self is: in order to be fulfilled and find happiness, he is willing to put himself at risk. Mead knows that he is deliberately defying the norms of the city, and his effort to prevent being found out indicates that his society is unwelcoming to nonconformists, and also maybe punitive towards them. Mead feels that he must be secretive about his walking, and he “wisely” protects himself from being discovered by wearing sneakers, which make less noise. Furthermore, Bradbury suggests that Mead’s pleasure in walking is not simply unusual in his society, but also perhaps dangerous. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do.” Bradbury describes Mead’s long walks alone with words that convey individual empowerment: “stride,” “march on,” “his journey.” The only description of other people in this conformist society shows them to be lifeless and disconnected, so the sense of purpose and true pleasure that Mead experiences through his nonconformist actions seems even more important and unique. While others in the city do not walk around alone for pleasure, this is precisely “what Mr. Mead’s nonconformity is most apparent in his enjoyment of solitary walks. Therefore, Bradbury suggests that in a society that is corrupt or broken, nonconformity is necessary to maintain one’s humanity. Though Mead is ultimately punished for his nonconformity, he is the only character in the story who seems happy or fulfilled. Instead, he asserts his individuality in a society that expects conformity, and he lives a fulfilling life by doing what he enjoys rather than following social norms. Leonard Mead is different from everyone else, yet he does not feel lonely or alienated. In “The Pedestrian,” the citizens of the future city are described as being all the same, scurrying around like insects during the day or mesmerized by their televisions at night.
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