Fame and Alienation Theme Analysis

The Rocket’s sole goal in life is to be famous—that is, widely admired and the talk of the town. Not only does the Rocket desire this, he believes he deserves it, that it is his birthright due to his obvious grandeur and impressive lineage. In the Rocket’s eyes, such success and fame is his inevitable end. Unfortunately, the Rocket’s ego and surety of his own destiny become his downfall, exiling him to the countryside to die in obscurity. Through the arc of the Rocket, Wilde argues that, ironically, loneliness and isolation are the consequence of a vain pursuit of fame.

In the Rocket’s conviction that he is unique and remarkable, thus meriting fame, he either knowingly or unknowingly pushes away from the people around him. The Rocket naturally assumes that everyone he meets is beneath him, spurning the help of others. The other fireworks, with whom the Rocket would have much in common if he could manage to set aside his belief that he is utterly remarkable, offer keen advice. For example, they tell him not to cry so much and dampen his gunpowder, which indeed is what prevents his going off. Had he listened, he could have soared into the air with the others and at least be briefly seen and enjoyed by the Court. Instead, soaked from his own tears, the Rocket is tossed into the swamp. There, the Duck shows hospitality to the Rocket, despite how insufferable he is, saying that she hopes he will take up residence in the country. She values him not for his function or for his greatness, for she sees that he has none of either, but rather just on account of his personhood. The Duck, who is the only character to have left public life, seems to be the most well-adjusted, able to see value in in the most supercilious character. However, the Rocket rejects her offer of hospitality and community and further alienates himself. The Rocket is obsessed with fame and being known by all, since he believes that he deserves it. Had he been willing to set aside his demand for renown, he could have at least been known and appreciated by the other fireworks or by the Duck and her countryside community. Instead, he finds himself in a self-imposed exile, more alienated and unknown than he would have been if he had been able to set aside his obsession with fame and recognition.

Though the desire of fame is to be celebrated and widely admired, the Rocket’s self-imposed exile results in the exact opposite effect. The Rocket is mistaken for an old stick by two young boys and used as kindling to boil their water while they take a nap. When the flame dries the Rocket’s gunpowder enough that he finally goes off, he believes that he will create such an explosion that it will become local legend. However, the narrator again interjects to state definitively that no one saw nor heard the Rocket’s ascent. The Rocket dies believing that he has caused a great sensation, when in reality he has died in obscurity, unknown and uncelebrated. The only effect that the Rocket has is briefly frightening a Goose as his expired stick falls to the ground. Though he believes in his own greatness, he dies seconds after, leaving no legacy, no awe, no trace, and no one to remember him. In his quest to be widely known, he becomes permanently and irrevocably alienated from the world.

Wilde, who famously said, “There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about,” warns that the pursuit of fame, the desire to overcome loneliness and to be widely seen and known, is just as likely to result in abject alienation. Rather than solving the problem, single-mindedly pursuing fame simply exacerbates it. Though the Rocket is given several chances to belong and to be known, he is unwilling to settle for anything less than absolute greatness and celebrity status. Wilde suggests that as the Rocket dies with nothing, in obscurity, so will anyone who pursues fame at all costs.