Final Answer:
When Roy went with Beatrice at the start of Chapter 7, he was only interested in retrieving his baseball and going home.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury, at the beginning of Chapter 7, Roy is primarily motivated by a desire to retrieve his baseball, which holds significant sentimental value to him.
This simple and tangible goal reflects the innocence and simplicity of Roy's character at this point in the narrative. His focus on the baseball and the intention to return home immediately emphasize the contrast between the ordinary desires of youth and the extraordinary events that unfold in the story.
Roy's singular focus on the baseball serves as a narrative device to highlight the intrusion of the supernatural elements that permeate the novel. The contrast between Roy's seemingly mundane goal and the ominous undertones of the carnival that has come to town sets the stage for the broader themes of good versus evil and the loss of innocence explored in the novel.
The retrieval of the baseball becomes a symbol of the characters' connection to their normal lives and the subsequent disruption caused by the mysterious and malevolent forces introduced by the carnival.
As the narrative progresses, Roy's initial goal of retrieving the baseball evolves into a metaphorical journey representing the characters' confrontation with darker forces and their struggle to maintain their innocence in the face of impending danger. Bradbury masterfully uses this seemingly simple quest to draw readers into a deeper exploration of the complex themes and symbolism woven throughout the novel.