Discussion Topic
Character Analysis in Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt"
Summary:
In "The Veldt," the characters George and Lydia Hadley are parents increasingly concerned about their children's obsession with a virtual reality nursery. Their children, Peter and Wendy, exhibit disturbing behavior, reflecting their deep attachment to the nursery and their detachment from their parents. The story explores themes of technology's impact on family dynamics and the potential dangers of over-reliance on automated systems.
What are the character personalities in Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt"?
Authors develop characters through such methods as description, dialogue, other characters' reactions and comments, and the characters' thoughts, feelings, and speeches and actions.
From what one reads, then, Lydia and George Hadley of Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt" are much like many contemporary parents: lenient, disconnected from their children, and ineffective and indecisive in their parenting. With nothing to do in their Happylife Home, the Hadleys have no chores for their children, and there is no need to engage in play with them because they have the nursery. Into this nursery, Wendy and Peter--ironically named for characters in Peter Pan--spend their time creating their own amusements. If there is anything to their relationship with their parents, it is antagonism.
For instance, when George and Lydia become concerned about what is occurring in the nursery after they are chased out by a virtual lion, George decides that he will shut off the...
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house, telling his children. Then, Peter disrespectfully tells his father, "I don't think you'd better consider it any more, Father." Rebelliously, the children break back into the nursery after George closes it and tells them to stay out. After this incident, George talks with a psychologist since he cannot decide what to do on his own. Finally, when George does decide to shut off the house, the children "with wet faces" plead with him; to quiet them, George weakens and listens to his permissive wife who entreats him, "Oh, George,...it can't hurt [to turn on the nursery for a few minutes].
Wondering why they had ever bought the "nightmare" of the nursery, his wife replies, "Pride, money, foolishness." These characteristics have been their nemesis, as by allowing the children a few minutes, the nursery is changed to an African veldtland and the parents are attacked by beasts and killed. When the psychologist arrives, Wendy and Peter in their sociopathic unconcern at murdering their parents are polite and act civilized, offering David McClean a cup of tea.
What distinguishes each character in Bradbury's "The Veldt"?
This is a bit of a perplexing question. "Special" in what context? Special from other characters in literature? Special from the influencing story behind the grisly tale of "The Veldt"? Special in context with each other? Special in context of the story or society? The definition of "special" is:
special: distinguished, set apart from, or excelling others of its kind (American Heritage Dictionary)
We'll try examining this question in context of the story itself: What distinguishes these characters in context of the story? First, the mother is distinguishable for her ambiguous feelings. On one hand, the nursery terrifies her:
"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."
On the other hand, she is overwhelmed by her children's emotionalism and profoundly manipulated by them (i.e., manipulation: to intentionally influence deviously (AHD)):
"George," said Lydia Hadley, "turn on the nursery, just for a few moments. You can't be so abrupt. ... You can't be so cruel ..."
George is intelligent and deeply caring. His actions, whatever the unseen consequences might turn out to be, are motivated by compassion and care; he is not demanding, dictatorial, heartless--nor is he comfortable with being stern where needed:
"Oh, George," said the wife, "it can't hurt."
"All right—all right, if they'll just shut up. One minute, mind you, and then off forever."
Peter and Wendy are selfish and cruel and unfeeling. Psychologist David McClean asserts that is the fault of over-pampering by their parents--however, it would have been an unintentional result of kindness, love and care. There is no better proof of the way in which Wendy and Peter are special than to redirect attention to the end of the story:
Mr. and Mrs. Hadley screamed.
And suddenly they realized why those other screams had sounded familiar. ...
"A cup of tea?" asked Wendy in the silence.
One can only but wonder what happens to Mr. McClean ....