Structure

Title

The title of the short story “Marionettes, Inc.” by Ray Bradbury is a direct reference to the company that produces the marionettes. Braling’s marionette hands Smith a card reading “MARIONETTES, INC. Duplicate self or friends; new humanoid plastic 1990 models, guaranteed against all physical wear. From $7,600 to our $15,000 de luxe model” (p. 1, l. 41, p. 2, ll. 1-2). The company has been operating in secret for two years, because marionettes are not yet legalised (p. 2, l. 9). Nevertheless, the company advertises itself: “Marionettes, Inc., is two years old and has a fine record of satisfied customers behind it. Our motto is ‘No Strings Attached.’ Address: 43 South Wesley Drive” (p. 2, ll. 21-23). To produce the marionettes, the company creates moulds of their clients’ bodies and uses a colour index to check the eye, lips, hair, and skin colour (p. 2, ll. 12-14).

The significance of the title is not revealed until the middle of the story. Therefore, the title can be at first misleading or confusing for the readers. The two words that make up the title have contrasting meanings: marionettes are a type of puppets, suggesting something playful or fun; on the other hand, “Inc.” stands for “Incorporated” and is a corporate identifier, suggesting so...