The Last Night of the World Review by Difan Li

 The Last Night of the World Review by Difan Li

The Last Night of the World is a short story written by Ray Bradbury and published 1951 that, despite it’s very short length, is incredibly impacting and thought-provoking. In fact, I was unable to stop thinking about this story for several days afterward. The story follows a husband and wife as they both realize that all the adults have been having a recurring dream of a voice telling them that the end of the world will take place that night. Rather than go into a frenzy, they are oddly calm and discuss why it’s going to happen and what they should do with the remainder of their time. They decide to spend the rest of their day like normal and put their children to bed before they go to bed themselves. 

The story takes place in 1969, around the period of the Cold war. This builds the dark and ominous mood from the start and is important as it highlights the idea that many people have already come to terms with the possibility of death. Thematic ideas such as denial, peace, inevitability of death, and simplistic pleasures are shown, and the story emphasizes both the appreciation of life and the acceptance of fate. The brief way in which Bradbury conveys his messages is incredible and can be even more effective in making a reader think. After reading this story, you may begin to think about life and death and the question of whether one should embrace their future or find ways to change it.