Underlying the theme of violence and bullying is the text’s preoccupation with dystopia and social conflict. Dystopia refers to an imagined state or society in which individual freedom is severely limited and people experience extreme political, social, or environmental control. The children in “All Summer in a Day” live in a dystopian future in which it can be inferred that Earth, perhaps overburdened, is sending some inhabitants to colonize other planets like Venus. Conditions on these planets are hostile, and those who end up in this inhospitable environment appear to be victims of circumstance. The language Bradbury uses to describe life on Venus creates an oppressive mood, highlighting the sense of imprisonment Margot and the other children must constantly feel. Margot herself is the typical dystopian protagonist, alienated yet sensitive and knowledgeable. In fact, the children resent Margo because of her memories and sensitivity, echoing the forces of anti-intellectualism and anti-individualism that often feature prominently in dystopian tales. By contrast, William carries shades of the dystopian villain, representing brute force that curbs individual difference.

The classroom in Bradbury’s story seems to be a metaphor for humans trying to function “normally” in an abnormal world. In such a scenario, social and class conflicts become more pronounced and may erupt into violence, as we see in the children’s rage against Margot. Margot represents an outsider or an “alien” to the children, much like immigrants or refugees appear to “natives” in the real world. The children believe themselves to be the true dwellers of Venus, while Margot is an interloper who must be punished for her differentness. The imprisonment of Margot is eerily similar to the subjugation of marginalized peoples in contemporary times, with Margot functioning as a convenient scapegoat for the stresses and anxieties of her classmates. However, Margot can also be read as representing the privileged classes, since she has resources to possibly return to Earth, as well as knowledge and experiences that the other children lack. Ultimately, the social tensions, lack of freedom, and dissolution of ethics experienced by the children on Venus firmly establish the dystopian strands in the story’s narrative.