Chloe Elofer

602-101-MQ
Matthew Goldberg

More than just a hobby: A dependence

Before the dominance of technology, life was simple such as executing normal and

everyday tasks. However, due to the growth of this worldwide advancement, our daily lives have

changed remarkably, leaving individuals in our society to become dependent on self-operating

machines. Throughout “The Veldt”, the author presented the real struggle of the convenience of

technology, the benefits as well as the dependency which ultimately lead to the dissolution of the

family. To get a better understanding, I will be looking at the idea that because of the

convenience of technology, it lead to the separation of family relationship, harmed their ability to

define themselves and lastly how it affected the character’s personality.

The total reliance and convenience of technology harms the ability of self-dependency,

damages family relationship, and may lead to its absolute dissolution. Throughout the story,

technology is the most essential and powerful key for the Hadley’s and for the Happy home

itself. The addiction of technology and the advantages it occupied in their everyday lives caused

many consequences leading to neglect their ability to define themselves. As stated, “They

walked down the hall of their soundproofed Happy life 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” (Bradbury,112).The Happy home itself answers many

individuals aspiration, can read others mind as well as react to what is said. The high-tech

technology of the Hadley home has resulted in a deep malaise affecting Mr. and Mrs. Hadley,

damaging their role as parents, and unleashing the destructive tendencies within the children. As
the father states, “But I thought that's why we bought this house, so we wouldn't have to do

anything?” (Bradbury,113). Looking at the idea that because of the convenience of technology,

parents, unable to do their duties look forward to doing nothing which essentially creates a

disagreement between the kids and parents. The purpose as for the home itself is seen as: “At

dinner they ate alone, for Wendy and Peter were at a special plastic carnival across town and had

televised home to say they’d be late, to go ahead eating” (Bradbury,113).This can be explain as

the excessive dependence on technology and how it weakened their parent-child relationship.

The struggle and conflict over technology, in this case, the nursery and the house in general,

causes the children to hate their parents and ultimately leads to the dissolution of the family. It is

a family where the children lack love from their parents. Much of the reason for that is because

the children have been spoiled. “We’ve given the children everything they ever wanted”

(Bradbury,113). This shows that the father, George Hadley, understands how his children have

been spoiled by the high-tech technology of their house, and how he and his wife as parents have

contributed to having spoiled children. Giving them everything they desire and leaving them

with no boundary creates a dependency which is ultimately is the cause of the changes within

themselves and towards others. All in all, since technology revolved in their everyday lives, it

contributed to the dissolution of the family because of its convenience which changed the

characters personalities.

Leading up to a complete addiction to technology provoked many changes, one seen in

the character’s personality. In other words, Bradbury is describing Wendy, Peter, George and

Lydia’s evolution within themselves and towards others. In the matter regarding family

relationship, the bond between them seem broken. The Hadley family isn’t united and doesn’t

show devotion or love. Before the advancement of technology, kids would socialize, interact
with others and communicate with respect and admiration. As seen in the story, one can say

otherwise. The ultimate dependency of technology resulted in a complete different side of the

kids and the parents: “The house is wife and mother now, and nursemaid. Can I compete with an

African veldt? Can I give a bath and scrub the children as efficiently or quickly as the automatic

scrub bath can? I cannot” (Bradbury,117). Knowing the benefits of technology, Lydia is

undergoing a crisis, trying to understand her role in the family. This can be viewed as she doesn’t

feel worthful and important in the eye of the kids. She is saddened by this thought, since we all

know that a mother’s touch cannot be replaced by anything, especially by technology. Lydia

complains to George about the high-tech house, leaving her with nothing to do and abandoning

her role as a mother. To add, “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…”? (Bradbury,113). This reveal

that Mrs. Hadley doesn’t feel as if she is raising her children due to the implication of technology

which eased their responsibility as parents. Furthermore, Mr. Hadley is gripped by a similar

malaise. The house has made him feel unnecessary too, which is actually pointed out to him by

his wife; “You look as if you didn’t know what to do with yourself in this house, either. You

smoke a little more every morning and drink a little more every afternoon and need a little more

sedative every night. You’re beginning to feel unnecessary too” (Bradbury,113). This

demonstrates that the technological house has nullified their role as parents to their children, in

effect producing a dysfunctional family where the children unnaturally look to the house for

parenting. Parents tend to spoil their children, causing them to react when something is not in

their interest, which ultimately explains the change in their personalities. In addition, George

resents the fact that even though as parents they have given their children everything, given them

the high-tech leisure’s of the house, there is no gratitude towards the parents on the part of the
children. Indeed, they repay their parents not with gratitude and love, but with anger and threats.

This can be viewed as a lack of parental support since the benefits and convenience of

technology has taken over their parental roles. To add, Peter, unsatisfied with the decision of his

father reacts in a disgraceful way,” I wish you were dead” (Bradbury,112). It is seen as a kid

missing the love of a father. Technology has taken over the children’s emotions leading to saying

absurd things and acting before thinking. Therefore, due to the advances of technology, the

characters personalities changed remarkably leading us to believe that the convenience of

technology was the cause of this dissolution. Overall, the constant fight and battle over the

technology in the Hadley house has sadly turned the children against their own parents.

To conclude, due to the convenience of technology in the Harleys family, it influenced

the separation of family separation which ultimately caused the drastic change in the characters

personality. His story is a cautionary tale for those who adopt an over-reliance on technology.

That is bound to harm those around us, ourselves, and our relationships with others, including

our beloved ones. It also suggests that we were happier in simpler times without all the high-tech

technology and in today’s society, shutting off technological devices might just be the recipe

individuals need in order to return to true happiness.