Throughout The Veldt it was obvious that the nursery was the main source of fear and anxiety. It is a huge room that the kids have complete control over. Anything they think is projected into real life images in the walls. When the parents go into the nursery it is an African veldt. Not only are they able to see the lions eating but they can feel the sun, and smell the blood and meat from the lions’ mouths. It is so realistic that Lydia runs away from it crying. It is far from Alice in Wonderland, which is a common theme of the room. George went into the room and was unable to change what he saw, but when the kids are questioned about it the nursery then turns into a beautiful forest. The kids were unable to change what he couldn’t.
From this story it seems that the main anxiety Bradbury is trying to get across is the fear of future development. As the future progresses there are new inventions made that are meant to aid people in their everyday lives. In this case these new developments are hurting them rather than helping. They don’t do anything for themselves anymore. The simplest things, like taking a bath and cutting up food, are done for them. In the case of the nursery, the parents are basically helpless. The kids are the only ones who are able to control it. Even today younger generations have a better understanding on how to work technology than most adults. Therefore, in addition to the fear of the future, it also brings up the idea that kids can end up having more power and control in the world than adults do.
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You made a good point about future development and younger generations having more control, good job. Although, I did not feel the anxiety of the nursery until later on in the story.
ReplyDeleteI also think you made an excellent point about future development and kids having more power. We can see today that the younger generation is getting to make decisions that were once adult choices.
ReplyDeletePretzel.... That is apart of the advancement of society. More and more things are being accepted in this world as "kid friendly." This story in my mind has nothing to do with the power of children, but with the weakness of adults. Showing that people will not pay attention to the obvious imperfects someone they love has. Love is a blinder to all the bad that a person has. If the parents were smart enough to see there children were turning into monsters, then maybe they would have survived.
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