The Future of Technology

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If individuals are not careful, technology will eventually overtake humankind. Ray Bradbury dives into this theme in his short story, "The Veldt." In general, writers develop their theme by using various literary elements. This is the case in "The Veldt," however, the story's theme is also built through its science fiction genre. Bernardo puts this into light, saying that "Bradbury's poetic style transports the reader out of the everyday world and into a fantasy world, often reminiscent of the unchecked imagination of childhood." This fantastical style can be found throughout Bradbury’s other works, including Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes.
"The Veldt" begins by introducing the Hadleys and their Happylife Home nursery, "this house which clothed and fed and rocked them to sleep"(Bradbury). However, the Hadleys soon begin to fear their nursery, as it resembles an African veldt of blazing sun and ferocious lions. Their fear heightens when George Hadley finds his old wallet in the nursery with teeth marks and blood stains. They consult psychologist David McClean and decide to shut the nursery down, but become tempted to turn the machine back on and they soon pay for the decision with their lives. The power of the nursery is exemplified throughout the story and its focus is a product of the story’s historical context. “The Veldt” was written during the Cold War, a time of fear of the new technology of atomic weapons, and this fear is clear in Bradbury’s writing. Bradbury develops his theme that technology will destroy humankind in his story "The Veldt" through the use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and characterization.
Foreshadowing is a key element in “The Veldt,” as it gives the reader a hint at the disaster of th...

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Milne, Ira Mark. “The Veldt.” Short Stories for Students. N.p.: n.p., 2005. N. pag. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. .
“The Veldt.” The Veldt. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Veddma. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. .

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