Fire imagery indicating transformation and regeneration within people is dominant in this story. Here, fire imagery symbolizes our need for remembrances of times past. These memories are healthy for us, and, for William Finch, they provide regeneration for his weary spirit. Bradbury is a firm believer in nostalgia. He does not advocate remembering the past for reasons of sentiment; however, he feels that we need the past as a foundation for our future endeavors. Bradbury feels that we cannot possibly speak of and plan for the future unless we have a strong understanding of the past.