Certainly, I can help you extend your analysis. Let's work on a more detailed analysis of a character from either "There Will Come Soft Rains" or "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." Here's an example of an extended analysis centered around an arguable thesis:
In Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains," the character of the automated house itself becomes a central focus and a symbol of the story's themes. The house, with its robotic and seemingly sentient capabilities, is more than just a setting; it embodies the eerie and haunting consequences of a world devoid of human life. The arguable thesis for analysis is that "The automated house in Bradbury's story serves as a poignant symbol of human hubris and technological arrogance, ultimately highlighting the emptiness of a world without genuine human connection."
Throughout the story, the house carries out its automated routines with mechanical precision, providing meals, cleaning, and maintaining the household. Yet, this stark efficiency is juxtaposed with the absence of human inhabitants, underscoring the dark consequences of unchecked technological advancement. For instance, the house reads aloud a poem by Sara Teasdale titled "There Will Come Soft Rains," a poem that ironically celebrates nature's resilience in the face of human destruction. The juxtaposition of the automated house reciting this poem serves as a haunting reminder of humanity's absence and its impact on the natural world.
Furthermore, as the house becomes engulfed in flames due to a tragic accident, its attempts to extinguish the fire futilely demonstrate the absurdity of its existence in an empty world. The house's demise symbolizes the ultimate futility of technology in the absence of human life, suggesting that without genuine human connection, even the most advanced creations are hollow and meaningless.
In conclusion, the character of the automated house in "There Will Come Soft Rains" is a powerful symbol in Bradbury's story, serving as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of technological isolation and the importance of human presence and connection in the world. Through this analysis, we gain a deeper understanding of the story's themes and the role of the house as a character that speaks volumes about the narrative's message.
**Citation:**
Bradbury, Ray. "There Will Come Soft Rains." (Include the full citation as per MLA format.)