How does Bradbury create an atmosphere of danger, fear and alienation?

(p.25 : “The mechanical Hound”)

Already at the beginning of this passage some opposing conceptions are employed that are quite disturbing for the reader : a “Mechanical Hound”(these two words normally do not match), which sleeps but does not sleep and above all lives but does not live. In addition to that the living machine is placed in a “dark corner” and produces a “gentle” hum and vibration. Furthermore the whole setting is dominated by “dim light” (22); “moonlight” (23); or “flickering light” (26) so that the protagonist Montag appears very deserted and helpless in this environment, alone with the creature in a dark corner back in the firehouse. The reader who is connected to Montag’s point of view by the technique of narration feels the same. The Hound close to Montag is described by virtually only artificial or industrial sounds and materials for it is humming and vibrating, it even growls at Montag (as he touches it) with a rasping sound like electrical sizzle together with a frying sound, a scrapping of metal and a turning of rusty cogs (27/1ff). The creature’s body is made of brass, copper, steel (25/24,25) and nylon for some artificial hairs. These hard and cold materials create an atmosphere around the machine that is quite the same. Besides, unlike a real hound, it has eight metal spider-legs which give the creature a very frightening appearance in the mind of the reader. It is also said that this very machine lying next to the protagonist is made to kill and has done this before (eg rats, cats and chickens are mentioned 26/13) with its “steel needle” (26/15) that extends  from the machine’s proboscis and injects poison.. In the other part of the setting, the upper floor of the firehouse (where Montag goes after becoming too scared of the Hound) the light is still dim (“half-lit” 27/11) and the growl from the machine is still perceptible for Montag which shows he cannot really escape the constant danger. As a reaction he is “trembling” and his face turns “green-white” (27/12f) to signify his fear and thus make it comprehensible for the reader.

author: Patric Koenig