Saturday, July 13, 2013

In The Veldt, what do you think the author is saying about the way society treats children in general?

In "The Veldt," Ray Bradbury might be suggesting that society, particular parents, generally finds a way for children to be constantly spoiled and entertained. The entire premise of the story surrounds this "nursery"—a word being used to mean something contrary to what it generally means—that entertains the children by giving them realistic places to visit. 


Throughout the story, George and Lydia Hadley send their children, Wendy and Peter, away. At the first meal mentioned in...

In "The Veldt," Ray Bradbury might be suggesting that society, particular parents, generally finds a way for children to be constantly spoiled and entertained. The entire premise of the story surrounds this "nursery"—a word being used to mean something contrary to what it generally means—that entertains the children by giving them realistic places to visit. 


Throughout the story, George and Lydia Hadley send their children, Wendy and Peter, away. At the first meal mentioned in the story, "Wendy and Peter were at a special prastic carnival across town..." This suggested abandonment of the children to entertainment seems to have backfired on the parents, however, as the children are rebelling. Lydia explains to her husband that the children have "been acting funny ever since you forbade them to go to New York a few months ago."


When the psychiatrist visits the nursery, he immediately blames the parents for their abandoment of the children to the room. He tells George that "This room is their mother and father, far more important in their lives than their real parents." This is why when the parents attempt to shut off the nursery the children rebel and lure George and Lydia in the nursery, which has tranformed into the African veldt where they are killed and eaten by the lions.


Overall, Bradbury suggests that parenting, when done by automated devices like the nursery (or television), turns out poorly with the children showing little to no respect for their parents.

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