Dandelion Wine
Ray Bradbury
Contributed by Loretta Ingwersen
Chapter 36
Summary

On one of the hottest days of the summer, Tom tries to wake Douglas but is unable to do so. He calls his mother to tell her that Douglas is sick with a high fever; a doctor arrives at noon but doesn’t know what’s wrong. Douglas’ family tries to cool him down with ice, as he has fever dreams from events in the summer. At four-fifteen in the afternoon, Mr. Jonas comes by in his wagon and Tom tells the junk man of his brother dying.

Seven that evening, Jonas speaks to Mrs. Spaulding, wishing to tell the sick boy something; she politely refuses him, as Douglas is not conscious. At eight o’clock, the doctor returns and at nine o’clock Douglas’ family sets up a cot outside, under the apple tree, where he can sleep in a cool environment. Mr. Jonas visits Douglas as he sleeps, giving him two bottles of fresh air to drink. As Jonas leaves, Douglas wakes. Later still, an elated Tom reports to his parents that Douglas’ fever has broken; they watch him as he sleeps.

Analysis

If summer is life and natural pleasures, it reaches a boiling point in this chapter. If anything, Douglas is at risk of being consumed by the power of summer and life, as various machines threatened to consume their users in the novel. The fever dreams and Tom’s talk with Mr. Jonas indicate that Douglas has been overwhelmed by his experiences of the summer, that he needs to remember that there is pleasure in the midst of change and turmoil. Jonas provides exactly that with his bottled air.

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