The Veldt Literary Analysis

Throughout various mediums studied in class we can observe that there is a common theme of parent-child relationships. This theme is especially significant in the short story “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. During which we see several cases of the unhealthy relationships between parents George and Lydia and their children Peter and Wendy. The author uses subtle cues in his writing to create an unsettling feeling that something with the children is not right. He also makes notice of the strange yet foreign relationship between the parents and their young trying to prove how deadly that can be, no pun intended. The children lack respect and trust when it comes to their parents which leads to a very unhealthy and negative relationship between the …show more content…
This is first seen when the couple enters the veldt and George questions, “I don't see anything wrong," to which Lydia replies, “Wait a moment, you'll see.” (Bradbury, 2001). Lydia is very skeptical about her children’s intentions and the amount of uncertainty she feels towards them is concerning. She very clearly has doubts about what they have been telling her and tries to convince George of this. After exploring the veldtland for some time they reach the centre where they notice that the environment starts to change. The wind picks up and suddenly they can smell the animals and hear the vultures circling. Ironically, the shift in surroundings starts as they come into the centre of the veldt, almost like a trap that the children have set out. Lydia has caught onto this as she mutters the words, "Filthy creatures,"(Bradbury, 2001). It is unclear whether or not she is using this phrase to refer to the vultures flooding the sky or her very own children. In either instance there is a tone of disgust in her voice which, if she is talking about her children is not a typical reaction. Lydia does not trust her children and that is a contributing factor towards the health of their