Blow Quote by Ray Bradbury
“They crashed the front door and grabbed at a woman, though she was not running, she was not trying to escape. She was only standing, weaving from side to side, her eyes fixed upon a nothingness in the wall as if they had struck her a terrible blow upon the head. Her tongue was moving in her mouth, and her eyes seemed to be trying to remember something, and then they remembered and her tongue moved again: "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Illustrated Man, Ray Bradbury, 1951
A violent assault is described, highlighting a victim’s stunned, detached state and a cryptic, possibly prophetic utterance about enduring light in England.
In simple terms: A brutal scene with a mysterious, hopeful declaration.
Key Takeaway
Notice how trauma can coexist with hope.
Themes
violence
psychology
prophecy
Mood
tense
hopeful
Type
dramatic
literary
When to use this quote
- war zones
- psychological trauma
- historical conflicts
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
memory
resilience
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “candle” symbolize for the speaker?
- How does the victim’s trance affect the narrative?
A Different Perspective
The quote mixes graphic violence with vague religious symbolism, which may obscure its meaning.
