Analysis on "There Will Come Soft Rains"

There's no doubt of the pessimistic message of "There Will Come Soft Rains". Yet I find that there's also a message of hope here, if not for human kind at least for our planet. The computerized house continued functioning under the Human's pre-programmed functions and orders, much like a servant, way long after "the man" (I mean the human kind) was no longer in existence. That exalted the importance of human kind and simple things we usually ignore, like being on time, having a healthy breakfast, enjoying a good song, etc. The story also replicates in this electronic “smart” house, the things we all like to have around us, like a nice meadow, or fresh air coming through the windows, a bird flying around, and even the snow. It also invites us to be aware of our "fanatism" with technology and the dangers of it.

The message I get from this story is a message of hope. Why? Here is why. When the electronic house burned up, it was like a farmer burning down the old trees to plant new ones, or when he burns down the dried-up sugar canes to replace them for better seeds and crops, or like the gardener who eliminates the weeds so the flowers and seeds could grow. It’s like the story is saying, “out with the old”, and in this case the old is Technology and the house. We ought to get back in touch with nature and in touch with ourselves and not rely so much in the Technology, which in the long run could in fact destroy us.

One last thing, I noticed from the Youtube.com video about this story that I just saw, that the bird coming into the house causing the house to destroy itself and burn down was more like David vs. Goliath. The tiny bird here represents nature, earth, and possibly the rebirth of human kind defeating the all powerful Technology, and surviving on the way against all odds and confusions.

Evelyn Rodriguez-Lallave