The Veldt by Ray Bradbury: About a Family in Their Happy-Life Home in the Future

The Veldt is a story written by Ray Bradbury. It’s a story about a family in their Happy-Life Home in the future. More importantly, it reveals the impact of future technology on the children of that time. To examine this we analyze the children’s attitude toward their parents, their emotions to the nursery, and the impact it has on the children’s daily lives.

First, to examine this impact we analyze the children’s attitude toward their parents. “I don’t think you’d better consider it any more, Father.” Peter said to George’s threat to shut down the house. This quote is a perfect example of the child’s lack of respect for his parents. The technology has corrupted Peter’s reverence for anyone but his precious nursery. Another example is the quote “I wish you were dead!” Though many children have said that before, I doubt any meant it as much as Peter did. The children’s attitude towards their parents is very cavalier and cold. They were spoiled and expect everything they want from their parents. They become so stubborn that they changed the whole dynamic of the parent child relationship.

The emotions to the nursery really show the impact of technology. “Don’t let them do it”, Peter wailed when George was going to shut down the nursery for good. This quote suggests that the children have substituted the nursery for their parents. Peter is so wrapped up and consumed by his technology that he loses sense of reality. He really thought he was talking to a person. “I wouldn’t want the nursery locked up. Ever,” Peter said very coldly. By adding “coldly” to the end of the sentence, the author really emphasized how important the nursery was to Peter. As said by David McClean, “The room is their mother and father, far more important in their lives then their real parents.” The statement couldn’t be any truer. The nursery is a very important part of their life, too important.

To fully understand the impact of technology of the children of this time is to analyze the daily life of the children. “Would I have to brush my own teeth and comb my hair and give myself a bath?” Technology has made these children incredibly lazy. How much effort does it really take to brush your teeth or comb your hair? Another example is when Peter asked, “Would I have to tie my own shoes instead of letting the shoe tier do it?” Today, tying our shoes is a daily process that we don’t even think about. To think that these kids are so lazy that they don’t want to tie their own shoes is just absurd. In conclusion, technology has made the children’s lives easier but as a result, left them with coolness and laziness.