The Veldt is a short story by Ray Bradbury that explores themes of technology, family dynamics, and the consequences of over-reliance on automation. Set in a futuristic home, the story follows George and Lydia Hadley, who become increasingly concerned about their children's obsession with a virtual nursery that simulates an African veldt. As the children, Peter and Wendy, grow more detached from their parents, the nursery reflects their darker thoughts, leading to a chilling climax. This thought-provoking tale serves as a cautionary exploration of the impact of technology on human relationships, making it essential reading for fans of speculative fiction and those interested in the ethical implications of advanced technology.

Key Points

  • Explores the consequences of technology on family relationships in a futuristic setting.
  • Features George and Lydia Hadley, who struggle with their children's obsession with a virtual reality nursery.
  • Highlights the psychological impact of automation on parenting and childhood.
  • Includes themes of control, detachment, and the darker side of human nature.
newtopiccyclegrowin
Author:Ray Bradbury
13 pages
Language:English
Type:Short Story
Fantasy
newtopiccyclegrowin
Author:Ray Bradbury
13 pages
Language:English
Type:Short Story
Fantasy
259
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Name ____________________________ Date _________________
Mr. Arresto Literature Section #_______
The Veldt
Ray Bradbury (1950)
"George, I wish you'd look at the nursery
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."
"What's wrong with it?"
"I don't know."
"Well, then."
"I just want you to look at it, is all, or call a psychologist in to look at it."
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"What would a psychologist want with a nursery?"
"You know very well what he'd want." His wife paused in the middle of the
kitchen and watched the stove busy humming to itself, making supper for four. "It's just
that the nursery is different now than it was."
"Alright, let's have a look."
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They walked down the hall of their soundproofed Happylife Home, which had
cost them thirty thousand dollars installed, this house which clothed and fed and
rocked them to sleep and played and sang and was good to them.
Their approach sensitized a switch somewhere and the nursery light flicked on
when they came within ten feet of it. Similarly, behind them, in the halls, lights went on
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and off as they left them behind, with a soft automaticity.
"Well," said George Hadley.
They stood on the thatched floor of the nursery. It was forty feet across by forty
feet long and thirty feet high; it had cost half again as much as the rest of the house.
"But nothing's too good for our children," George had said.
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The nursery was silent. It was empty as a jungle glade at hot high noon. The walls
were blank and two-dimensional. Now, as George and Lydia Hadley stood in the
center of the room, the walls began to purr and recede into crystalline distance, it
seemed, and presently an African veldt
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appeared, in three dimensions, on all sides, in
color reproduced to the final pebble and bit of straw. The ceiling above them became a
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deep sky with a hot, yellow sun.
George Hadley felt the perspiration start on his brow.
"Let's get out of this sun," he said. "This is a little too real. But I don't see anything
wrong."
"Wait a moment, you'll see," said his wife.
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1
Nursery – a room in a house for the special use of young children.
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African veldt – a flat, wide-open grassland in Africa.
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Now the hidden odorophonics were beginning to blow a wind of odor at the two
people in the middle of the baked veldt. The hot straw smell of lion grass, the cool
green smell of the hidden water hole, the great rusty smell of animals, the smell of
dust like a red paprika in the hot air. And now the sounds: the thump of distant
antelope feet on grassy sod, the papery rustling of vultures. A shadow passed through
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the sky. The shadow flickered on George Hadley's upturned, sweating face.
"Filthy creatures," he heard his wife say.
“The vultures?”
“You see, there are the lions, far over, that way. Now they're on their way to the
water hole. They've just been eating," said Lydia. "I don't know what."
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"Some animal," George Hadley put his hand up to shield off the burning light
from his squinted eyes. "A zebra or a baby giraffe, maybe."
"Are you sure?" His wife sounded peculiarly tense.
"No, it's a little late to be sure," he said, amused. "Nothing over there I can see
but cleaned bone, and the vultures dropping for what's left."
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"Did you hear that scream?" she asked.
“No."
"About a minute ago?"
"Sorry, no."
The lions were coming. And again George Hadley was filled with admiration for
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the mechanical genius who had conceived this room. A miracle of efficiency selling for
an absurdly low price. Every home should have one. Oh, occasionally they frightened
you with their clinical accuracy, they startled you, gave you a twinge, but most of the
time what fun for everyone - not only for your own son and daughter, but for yourself
when you felt like a quick jaunt to a foreign land, a quick change of scenery. Well, here
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it was!
And here were the lions now, fifteen feet away, so real, so feverishly and
startlingly real that you could feel the prickling fur on your hand, and your mouth was
stuffed with the dusty upholstery smell of their heated pelts
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, and the yellow of
them was in your eyes like the yellow of an exquisite French tapestry, the yellows of
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lions and summer grass, and the sound of the matted lion lungs exhaling, and the
smell of meat from the panting, dripping mouths.
The lions stood looking at George and Lydia Hadley with terrible green-yellow
eyes.
"Watch out!" screamed Lydia.
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The lions were running at them.
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Pelts – the untanned skin of an animal.
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Lydia bolted and ran. Instinctively, George sprang after her. Outside, in the hall,
with the door slammed he was laughing and she was crying, and they both stood
appalled at the other's reaction.
"George!"
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"Lydia! Oh my poor, sweet Lydia!"
"They almost got us!"
"Walls, Lydia, remember - crystal walls, that's all they are. Oh, they look real, I
must admit - Africa in your parlor - but it's all dimensional, super-reactionary,
supersensitive color film and mental tape film behind glass screens. It's all
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odorophonics and sonics, Lydia. Here's my handkerchief."
"I'm afraid." She came to him and put her body against him and cried steadily.
"Did you see? Did you feel? It's too real!"
"Now, Lydia..."
"You've got to tell Wendy and Peter not to read any more on Africa."
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"Of course - of course…" he patted her.
"Promise?"
"Sure."
"And lock the nursery for a few days until my nerves get settled."
"You know how difficult Peter is about that. When I punished him a month ago
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by locking the nursery for even a few hours - the tantrum he threw! And Wendy too!
They live for the nursery."
"It's got to be locked, that's all there is to it."
"Alright." Reluctantly, he locked the huge door. "You've been working too hard.
You need a rest."
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"I don't know - I don't know," she said, blowing her nose, sitting down in a chair
that immediately began to rock and comfort her. "Maybe I don't have enough to do.
Maybe I have time to think too much. Why don't we shut the whole house off for a few
days and take a vacation?"
"You mean you want to fry my eggs for me?"
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"Yes," she nodded.
"And fold my socks?"
"Yes!" she replied with frantic, watery-eyed nodding.
"And sweep the house?"
"Yes, yes - oh, yes!''
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"But I thought that's why we bought this house, so we wouldn't have to do
anything?"
"That's just it. I feel like I don't belong here. The house is wife and mother now,
and nursemaid. Can I compete with an African veldt? Can I give a bath and scrub the
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End of Document
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Figures

"I just want you to look at it, is all, or call a psychologist in to look at it."

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FAQs

What is the main setting of 'The Veldt'?
The main setting of 'The Veldt' is a technologically advanced home known as the Happylife Home. It features a nursery that can create realistic environments based on the children's thoughts. In this story, the nursery transforms into an African veldt, complete with lifelike lions and the sounds and smells of the wild. This setting plays a crucial role in highlighting the themes of technology's impact on family dynamics and the children's psychological state.
Who are the main characters in 'The Veldt'?
The main characters in 'The Veldt' are George Hadley, Lydia Hadley, and their children, Wendy and Peter. George and Lydia are the parents who become increasingly concerned about their children's obsession with the nursery. Wendy and Peter are depicted as technologically savvy children who have developed a strong attachment to the nursery's virtual reality, particularly the African veldt. Their interactions with their parents reveal the growing tensions and disconnect within the family.
What psychological concerns are raised in 'The Veldt'?
In 'The Veldt', psychological concerns revolve around the effects of technology on family relationships and children's mental health. Lydia expresses worry about the nursery's impact on their children, suggesting that it has become a source of fear rather than comfort. The children exhibit signs of neurotic behavior, as they increasingly prefer the virtual world over real-life interactions. The story raises questions about parental neglect and the consequences of allowing technology to replace human connection.
What happens when George and Lydia enter the nursery?
When George and Lydia enter the nursery, they are initially struck by its realistic depiction of an African veldt, complete with lions and the sounds of wildlife. As they explore, they experience a mix of fascination and fear, especially as the lions appear to be alive and threatening. Lydia feels a sense of dread, and George tries to rationalize the experience, but both parents are unsettled by the nursery's ability to manifest their children's darker thoughts. This moment highlights the tension between reality and the children's fantasies.
How does the story end in 'The Veldt'?
The story concludes with a chilling twist as George and Lydia Hadley realize the true danger of the nursery. After attempting to lock the nursery and confront their children, they find themselves trapped inside with the lions. The children, Wendy and Peter, lock their parents in, revealing their sinister intentions. The final scene implies that the lions, which have been a source of fear throughout the story, are now a direct threat, culminating in a horrific fate for George and Lydia.
What role does technology play in 'The Veldt'?
Technology plays a central role in 'The Veldt', serving as both a facilitator of comfort and a source of danger. The Happylife Home is designed to cater to every need of the Hadley family, but it ultimately leads to emotional detachment and dependency. The nursery, in particular, exemplifies how advanced technology can create immersive experiences that replace real-life interactions. The story critiques the overreliance on technology, suggesting that it can foster isolation and even hostility within family dynamics.
What themes are explored in 'The Veldt'?
'The Veldt' explores several themes, including the dangers of overreliance on technology, the breakdown of family relationships, and the loss of parental authority. The story illustrates how technology can create a false sense of security while simultaneously eroding genuine connections. It also raises questions about the consequences of allowing children too much freedom and the impact of neglect on their development. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the potential perils of a technologically dominated society.

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