Marionettes, Inc.

by

Ray Bradbury

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Braling Two Character Analysis

Braling Two is Braling’s marionette, which he secretly purchased from Marionettes, Inc. Braling Two looks (and even smells) exactly like the real Braling: both look to be about thirty-five and have slightly graying hair, “sad gray eyes,” and a small mustache. The one differentiator is that instead of a heartbeat, Braling Two’s chest makes a ticking sound. Braling purchased the marionette as a way to distract the controlling Mrs. Braling so that he can take a month-long trip to Rio without her knowing. However, Braling thinks Braling Two is “difficult specimen,” because the marionette has thoughts, emotions, and aspirations that Braling didn’t expect. For example, Braling Two dislikes being shut up in the locked toolbox, longs to go to Rio, and has a crush on Mrs. Braling. In addition, Braling Two has the agency to act on his desires, and ultimately does so by (presumably) locking the real Braling in the toolbox in the cellar.

Braling Two Quotes in Marionettes, Inc.

The Marionettes, Inc. quotes below are all either spoken by Braling Two or refer to Braling Two. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Cost of Technology Theme Icon
).
“Marionettes, Inc.” Quotes

MARIONETTES, INC.

Duplicate self or friends; new humanoid plastic 1990 models, guaranteed against all physical wear. From $7,600 to our $15,000 deluxe model.

Related Characters: Braling, Smith, Braling Two
Related Symbols: Business Card
Page Number: 237
Explanation and Analysis:

“It may be splitting hairs, but I think it highly ethical. After all, what my wife wants most of all is me. This marionette is me to the hairiest detail. I’ve been home all evening. I shall be home with her for the next month. In the meantime another gentleman will be in Rio after ten years of waiting.”

Related Characters: Braling (speaker), Smith, Braling Two, Mrs. Braling
Page Number: 237
Explanation and Analysis:

“They didn’t tell me at the marionette shop that I’d get a difficult specimen.”

“There’s a lot they don’t know about us,” said Braling Two. “We’re pretty new. And we’re sensitive.”

Related Characters: Braling (speaker), Braling Two (speaker)
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis:

“Did my wife put you up to this?”

“No.”

“Did she guess? Did she talk to you? Does she know? Is that it?” […]

“You’ll never know, will you?” Braling Two smiled delicately. “You’ll never know.”

Braling struggled. “She must have guessed; she must have affected you!”

Related Characters: Braling (speaker), Braling Two (speaker), Mrs. Braling
Page Number: 243
Explanation and Analysis:

Ten minutes later, Mrs. Braling awoke. She put her hand to her cheek. Someone had just kissed it. She shivered and looked up. “Why—you haven’t done that in years,” she murmured.

“We’ll see what we can do about that,” someone said.

Related Characters: Mrs. Braling (speaker), Braling, Braling Two
Page Number: 243
Explanation and Analysis:
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Braling Two Quotes in Marionettes, Inc.

The Marionettes, Inc. quotes below are all either spoken by Braling Two or refer to Braling Two. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Cost of Technology Theme Icon
).
“Marionettes, Inc.” Quotes

MARIONETTES, INC.

Duplicate self or friends; new humanoid plastic 1990 models, guaranteed against all physical wear. From $7,600 to our $15,000 deluxe model.

Related Characters: Braling, Smith, Braling Two
Related Symbols: Business Card
Page Number: 237
Explanation and Analysis:

“It may be splitting hairs, but I think it highly ethical. After all, what my wife wants most of all is me. This marionette is me to the hairiest detail. I’ve been home all evening. I shall be home with her for the next month. In the meantime another gentleman will be in Rio after ten years of waiting.”

Related Characters: Braling (speaker), Smith, Braling Two, Mrs. Braling
Page Number: 237
Explanation and Analysis:

“They didn’t tell me at the marionette shop that I’d get a difficult specimen.”

“There’s a lot they don’t know about us,” said Braling Two. “We’re pretty new. And we’re sensitive.”

Related Characters: Braling (speaker), Braling Two (speaker)
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis:

“Did my wife put you up to this?”

“No.”

“Did she guess? Did she talk to you? Does she know? Is that it?” […]

“You’ll never know, will you?” Braling Two smiled delicately. “You’ll never know.”

Braling struggled. “She must have guessed; she must have affected you!”

Related Characters: Braling (speaker), Braling Two (speaker), Mrs. Braling
Page Number: 243
Explanation and Analysis:

Ten minutes later, Mrs. Braling awoke. She put her hand to her cheek. Someone had just kissed it. She shivered and looked up. “Why—you haven’t done that in years,” she murmured.

“We’ll see what we can do about that,” someone said.

Related Characters: Mrs. Braling (speaker), Braling, Braling Two
Page Number: 243
Explanation and Analysis: