Summary and Analysis: Medicine for Melancholy The Little Mice””

First published in Escapade Magazine as “The Mice,” this story is another example of Bradbury’s desire to write a narrative that uses a subtle twist on reality. Here the thrust of his efforts lies in the element of suspense as the reader is encouraged to use his imagination. Mice imagery is used to describe the Mexican couple, and these are consistent throughout the story. When the Mexicans meet people in alley ways, they run; when the Mexican man raps on his backdoor screen, the sound is like a “fat mouse scrambling.” Other times the Mexican “nibbles” at his door, and the couple is described as being as “quiet as a mouse.” The blue light which illuminates their home further intensifies the mood of unreality, for the light is not a typical light, nor are the Mexicans who spend much of their lives beneath it. The wine that they spend so much time drinking further distorts reality for them. Yet the landlord reaffirms the norm and acknowledges Bradbury’s philosophy that fantasy or unreality is beneficial only when it has a positive reinforcement on people. The landlord finds the realities of life, such as a well-lighted home and home cooking, much more satisfying.