Technology and Mystery

#5

Matt Powers

 Blog Post 1

           Throughout high school I read what now seems like countless different novels over the course of four years.  My favorite book during these years was George Orwell’s 1984.  The book had a few major themes, but it shares one in particular with “The Veldt”. Throughout both books, the idea of technology growing to a point in which it has the ability to harm and negatively impact your individual life is made very clear. It was this theme that led me to enjoy both stories so much.

“The Veldt” describes a young family whose life has become almost entirely dependent on technology; this issue gets so bad that in the end it costs the parents their lives.  Although I would not consider the story to be gothic in the traditional sense (gory, scary etc..), it does rely on the use of the trope a sense of mystery. “The Veldt” does this through lots of foreshadowing and vivid imagery.  For example, when the parents are describing the nursery to one another they frequently hear screams “ A moment later they heard screams. Two screams. Two people from downstairs and then the roar of lions…Those screams- they sound familiar.” (271). The screams they heard turn out to be the parents hearing their own deaths.  Since the nursery displays the thoughts of the children Peter and Wendy, one can assume the children had thought of the scenario before.  

By maintaining a sense of mystery using these methods, Ray Bradbury is able to keep the reader in suspense as he builds the story.  Due to this, and the depiction of technology causing our downfall, I feel that this story is a must read for any literature lover.  To conclude, I would give “The Veldt” five stars and recommend it to all of my friends.

Works Cited:

“The Veldt” :

·       Oates, Joyce Carol. The Veldt. American Gothic Tales. New York: Plume, 1996. N. pag. Print.