Something Wicked This Way Comes Summary

SETTING The text is set in Green Town, Illinois during October 23 - October 25. The year is not listed, but it seems probable that it takes place in the 1950's era. Several things might lead a reader to conclude this fact, including the simple freedoms the boys enjoy, the respect the boys offer to adults, and the small town atmosphere that, for the most part, represents an atmosphere that is not largely present in American society today.

The fact that text is set in the fall season allows readers to feel the enhanced suspenseful mood Bradbury pens into the entire story with Halloween being involved in the storyline. The characters birth dates are significant in that they are before or after Halloween.

LIST OF CHARACTERS

Major Characters

Will Halloway Will has blond-white hair the color of milk. He has clear blue eyes, and he was born one minute before midnight on October 30. He is happy with who he is, and overall, he's a good person. He is thirteen years, eleven months, and 24 days old. Will lives with his mother and father on Oak Street.

Jim Nightshade Jim has wild, thick hair, the color of waxed chestnuts. He has mint green eyes, and he was born one minute after midnight on October 31. He's thirteen years, eleven months, and 23 days old. Jim is constantly looking for excitement. He is not content with who he is. His sense of adventure constantly interferes with his sense of right and wrong. Jim lives only with his mother. He has no siblings and no father. They live next door to Will and his family on Oak Street.

Charles Halloway Charles is Will's father. He's fifty-four and works for the library as a custodian. He loves Will and does the best he can, but his thoughts are consumed with the idea that he's too old to raise a child.

Mr. Dark / The Illustrated Man Mr. Dark is tall and has a pale, pockmarked face. He wears a red vest with a black suit that appears to be made of itchy things like brambles. His hair and eyebrows are also black. He has yellow eyes. He is part owner of Cooger and Dark's Combined Shadow Shows and cross-continental Pandemonium Theater Company.

Mr. Cooger / Robert / The (evil) nephew / Mr. Electico Cooger, who eventually moves into the other identities listed, originally has bright red hair, bright blue eyes, and lots of muscles. He, with Dark, is co-owner of Cooger and Dark's Combined Shadow Shows and cross-continental Pandemonium Theater Company.

Minor Characters

Mrs. Halloway She is Will's mother. She's very content with her life. She functions as any mother should. She cooks well, goes to church, and knits quietly by the fire. She loves Charles and Will, and she regrets nothing about her life.

Mrs. Nightshade She is Jim's mother. She is a sad, hard woman who has experienced extensive loss throughout her life. She's had three children and lost all but Jim. Her husband is gone, and she wants nothing more that for Jim to return home someday with lots of children for her to love.

Miss Foley Foley is the boys' seventh grade school teacher. She's in her fifties, and quickly going gray. She's lonely and regrets most of what she is.

Mr. Crosetti Crosetti is the town barber. On the night of October 23, he smells the cotton candy of the coming carnival, and it makes him cry as it reminds him of his lost youth. He, like most of the adults in the novel, regrets his past and envies the boys for their youth.

Mr. Tetley Tetley is the cigar store proprietor. A large wooden Indian stands outside his shop. He seems content with who he is, but he pays little attention to the events occurring outside of his life.

Cooger and Dark's Combined Shadow Shows and cross-continental Pandemonium Theater Company Tom Fury / The Dwarf Fury is a door-to-door lightning rod salesman who gives the boys a free lightning rod at the start of the novel. He is changed into the Dwarf by the carnival because is jealous of his lost youth.

The Dust Witch / The Witch / The Gypsy She is a very old woman who is originally perceived as a wax figurine. Her eyes are sewn shut with black threads. She displays odd psychic powers. She can't read minds, but she is very capable of sensing things, people, and thoughts people send her.

The Skeleton He is a man so thin and tall that he looks like a piccolo.

The Blimp A circus freak who is punctured every night to deflate and inflated again at dawn.

The Wart A midget for Cooger and Dark's carnival.

Monsieur Guillotine A man who wears black tights, black long stockings, and a black hood over his head.

The Crusher A muscle-man.

The Lava Sipper A circus freak who swallows fire balls.

CONFLICT

Antagonist The conflict of this story definitely occurs within two realms: man versus man, and man versus the supernatural. That's not to say, though, that there are two antagonists. The only real antagonist in the story is Dark, proprietor of Cooger and Dark's Combined Shadow Shows and cross-continental Pandemonium Theater Company. The carnival itself, though, has such supernatural powers, it would be impossible not to classify it as paranormal.

Protagonist The major stable protagonist of the story is Will Halloway. Occasionally Jim Nightshade fits into this role, and eventually Charles does too, but Will is the only possible choice as a constant protagonist.

Climax The conflict comes to a head in the climactic final battle that occurs over the last part of the book. The climax, though, doesn't actually occur until Jim is finally resuscitated by Charles and Will.

Outcome The conflict has several outcomes: the carnival is destroyed, Will and Jim remain friends, and Charles makes peace with who he truly is.

SHORT PLOT/CHAPTER SUMMARY (Synopsis) On the afternoon of October 23, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are sitting on their front lawns when a traveling lightning rod salesman arrives, and after talking with the boys, offers them a free lightning rod for a storm that promises to come in that night. The boys have spent literally every second of their lives together. At thirteen, though, differences are starting to become apparent. Will is quite content with who he is. Jim can only look to what will be. He is unhappy with all of who he is.

At three a.m. on October 24, a carnival arrives in town. The boys hear the music, and run out to meet the carnival train, but immediately, they know something