Chimneys Quote by Ray Bradbury
““...Until they stood at last by a crumbling wall, looking up and up and still farther up at the great tombyard top of the old house. For that's what it seemed. The high mountain peak of the mansion was littered with what looked like black bones or iron rods, and enough chimneys to choke out smoke signals from three dozen fires on sooty hearths hidden far below in dim bowels of this monster place. With so many chimneys, the roof seemed a vast cemetery, each chimney signifying the burial place of some old god of fire or enchantress of steam, smoke, and firefly spark. even as they watched, a kind of bleak exhalation of soot breathed up out of some four dozen flues, darkening the sky still more, and putting out some few stars.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, 1950
The ruined mansion, filled with chimneys like graves, symbolizes the decay of industrial ambition and the oppressive weight of progress.
In simple terms: The house’s many chimneys represent a dying, smothering industrial age.
Key Takeaway
Beware unchecked industrial growth that suffocates humanity.
Themes
industrial decay
environment
progress
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
environmental
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- environmental activism
- literary study
Key Concepts
urban ruin
environmental degradation
industrial metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How does industrial ruin affect community identity?
- Can progress be reimagined without environmental loss?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook human resilience amid decay.
