Final answer:
Ray Bradbury suggests that a society which criminalizes benign activities like walking down the street values conformity over individual freedom, a concept aligning with the Broken Windows Theory. The other literary examples also discuss societal norms and the balance between human presence and nature, illustrating the complexities of individual freedom within a community.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ray Bradbury's speculative narrative raises questions about what a society might lose in its quest to eradicate crime completely. When walking down the street becomes a criminal act, as suggested in the student's reference to "The Pedestrian," it implies that such a society values conformity and control over individual freedom. The notion of crime in this context is not limited to acts of harm or theft, but extends to non-conforming behaviors that do not align with societal norms. This can be linked to the Broken Windows Theory, which is based on the concept that visual signs of disorder and neglect, like broken windows, can promote further crime and anti-social behavior; conversely, strictly managed environments may suppress not only crime but individuality as well.In the excerpt from Henry James' "Daisy Miller," the character Winterbourne reflects on societal norms that restrict where respectable young ladies can walk.
Daisy's response, highlighting the limitations imposed on local women compared to her own more independent behavior, suggests that excessively regulated behavior reduces personal freedom and the vitality of social interactions.The contrast between pure nature and corrupt society is drawn in Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn." Initially, human presence on the river is portrayed negatively, suggesting a society that corrupts nature's beauty. However, as soon as the human presence is removed, solitude prevails, and the absence of human activities renders the scene 'lonesome.' This subtly indicates that while society can be seen as negative or stifling, it is also a source of engagement and interest. The presence of people and their activities, despite their imperfections, is what gives a place its character and prevents it from being desolate.