Ray Bradbury is known for many of his strange and intriguing stories, though “A Season of Calm Weather” seems very normal in comparison. There are many aspects of this story that I find interesting, including the title and the point of view in which it is being told. This whole story is being told from an outside perspective, which gives the reader extra insight into the story. This third person narrator even goes so far as to let the reader know in advance that George and Picasso will cross paths:
“So the shore-line stage was set, and in a few minutes the two men would
meet. And once again Fate fixed the scales for shocks and surprises, arrivals
and departures.” (2)
The title of this story stood out because it felt separate from what the story was about; sure, it may be taking place during a seemingly calm day, but George does not fully take it in because he is so obsessed with Picasso and his artwork. The sand artwork is special because it is made by a profound artist whose work is sold for very high prices, and yet it only exists for a short amount of time. It will never exist again, and it holds a special moment for George and when he meets his favorite artist, which makes the artwork invaluable. After it is washed away, it will only exist within George’s memory.
This ability to look at the story from the outside not only draws the reader in more, but also reflects the way that George sees things: through a different lens. The story would be much different if we were looking at the world purely through George’s eyes, but then we would not get as much information on the actions of other characters and how they affect the story.
The narrator introduces the reader to this story by describing the arrival of a very average American man with a very average name: George Smith, though George Smith is special in that he takes in his new environment through the eyes of Pablo Picasso’s paintings. This fascination with Pablo Picasso’s art later influences his accidental meeting with the artist himself, who is in the moment creating artwork in the sand. The artwork in the sand becomes George’s main focus as he tries desperately to come up with some way to preserve the work, even though it will be washed away by the rising tide eventually. George’s ideas for preserving it would not do the art justice anyway, and he realizes this, which is why he doesn’t bother to run back to the hotel to grab his camera; it will not look any better than it will in the existing moment. So he takes in every aspect of the piece in the sand, locking it into his memory to keep.
Though the ending of this story is inevitable, it leaves the reader with a relatable feeling of wanting to hold onto the past, of drinking in as much of the beauty in the world as you can before it is gone. All that is left is a memory to cherish, as time marches on.