August 2002: Night Meeting

"August 2002: Night Meeting"

In Ray Bradbury's "August 2002: Night Meeting", there is an unexpected encounter in a desert between Tomas Gomez and a Martian named Muhe Ca. There is a problem about the communication between them. They cannot understand each other. At first, they use gestures to introduce themselves. Then, Muhe Ca has the ability to learn English very quickly; therefore, they are able to understand each other easier. After that, Tomas hands Muhe Ca a cup of coffee, and they realize that their hands go through each other like ghosts. Each believes he is real, and the other is dead. Each tries to prove he is in the present. They try to show each other what they see, but one cannot see what the other sees. They realize maybe they live in two different worlds. In the end, they "agree to disagree" on who comes from the future and who is from the past.

In "August 2002: Night Meeting", the central idea is about the different reality. Two main characters are from two different worlds, they both have two different visions. At first, they get confused, they try to prove to each other that they are real. However, in the end, they want to go to each other's world.

Bradbury wants to show his audience that life is in the present by using two main characters, Tomas Gomez and the Martian. They are both static characters. The audience can see that through their friendly gestures and calm conversation. The Martian can see the beautiful women and the boats very clearly. He refuses to believe that these things are from the past. It happens the same way to Tomas. He can see his civilization in the distance; he is on his way to the festival. From here, the audience can see inside each of them exists their own world. They completely believe it. They live for their goal, for their destination. It doesn't matter who is from the future or past. They just believe in what they see right now.

"August 2002: Night Meeting" takes place on Mars, a fiction story; however, it is totally meaningful in real life. It is about how people believe in their lives, their destination, and how to reach their goals. Don't be distracted by other ideas.