The Veldt Research Paper

Words: 1238
Pages: 5

At the time, television was declared a greatly innovative, highly beneficial technology. Yet there are still many complaints about television leading to various detrimental health conditions, on top of reducing conversation between family members. The Veldt, a short story written by Ray Bradbury in 1950, tells the story of a family living in a futuristic, automated house: the Happylife Home (“The Veldt”). This science fiction tale was inspired by Bradbury’s opinions on the rapid economic expansion in America after World War II, and its creation of the consumer culture. Bradbury states that he was also influenced by the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, as well as the Huxley novel Brave New World (“The Veldt”). In this particular futuristic setting, the Hadley family lives in their automated Happylife Home, designed to clothe, feed, pamper its inhabitants: George, Lydia, and …show more content…
However, after noticing the nursery permanently displaying an African veldt, Lydia and George become concerned and notify their psychologist, David McClean, to investigate the situation. After visiting the nursery, David suggests that they turn off the room, and even the entire house, including every automated appliance, but when George announces his decision to the children, they become extremely upset. After they cry for rescue from the nursery, the parents are deceived and trapped in the room, leaving them to the hungry lions. Throughout the story, technology is prominent, and Bradbury ensures that readers truly understand the drawbacks of having excessive comfort, such as an automated house, or a virtual reality room. Ray Bradbury wrote The Veldt, using symbolism and simile, to criticize the disintegration of the family structure, caused by technological advancement, in order to warn the public about the future possibility of a widespread familial