Part of the genius of Something Wicked This Way Comes is the recurring juxtapositions of the universal elements of age.
For example, the age of Will Holloway compared to his father.
The age of Will Holloway compared to Jim Nightshade.
The age of Jim Nightshade compared to how how old he’d like to be.
The age of Charles Holloway compared to how old he’d like to be.
Bradbury expertly captures the wistfulness of old age looking back at youth, and the eager anticipation of youth looking ahead at an older age.
In Chapter Two, Will spots his dad at work in the library.
Will stared.
It was always a surprise — that old man, his work, his name.
That’s Charles William Halloway, thought Will, not grandfather, not far-wandering , ancient uncle, as some might think, but…my father.
So, looking back down the corridor, was Dad shocked to see he owned a son who visited this separate 20,000- fathoms-deep world? Dad always seemed stunned when Will rose up before him, as if they had met a lifetime ago and one had grown old while the other stayed young, and this fact stood between….
Far off, the old man smiled.
They approached each other, carefully.
Bradbury, Ray (2013-04-23). Something Wicked This Way Comes (Greentown) (p. 14). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Chapter Two ends the way it began – with boys running.
The door slammed.
Outside, a weather of stars ran clear in an ocean sky. “Heck.” Jim sniffed north, Jim sniffed south. “Where’s the storm? That darn salesman promised. I just got to watch that lightning fizz down my drainpipes!”
Will let the wind ruffle and refit his clothes, his skin, his hair. Then he said, faintly, “It’ll be here. By morning.”
“Who says?”
“The huckleberries all down my arms. They say.”
“Great!”
The wind flew Jim away.
A similar kite, Will swooped to follow.
Bradbury, Ray (2013-04-23). Something Wicked This Way Comes (Greentown) (p. 16). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
I’m sorry. But that’s just brilliant. Two boys as kites, being carried by the wind.
Brilliant.
Listening to Caruso sing Rigoletto.