The Celestial Omnibus

The unnamed boy is the dynamic protagonist of “The Celestial Omnibus,” and his journey toward artistic enlightenment drives the theme of Art and Childhood Innocence. The boy lives with his parents in Surbiton, London, and enjoys the visits of neighbor Mr. Bons. While his parents are irreverent of poetry and Mr. Bons boasts intellectual elitism, he himself embodies a balance between the two extremes. He is the personification of childhood innocence, a blank slate upon which artistic spirit may be reflected. This innocence spurs curiosity, with the boy fixating on a neighborhood signpost that reads “To Heaven” and points to an empty alley. Though dissuaded by his parents and Mr. Bons, he discovers the titular omnibus, a horse-drawn carriage, that offers sunrise and sunset departures. He catches the omnibus and talks to its first driver, 17th-century British author Sir Thomas Browne. Though unfamiliar with the author’s work, the boy forms a connection that speaks to deeper sensibility. Overall, he enjoys the beauty of sensory thrills and changes throughout the short story. Whereas in the beginning, he defers to adult skepticism, after his first trip on the omnibus, he appreciates literature in a new light.