The Veldt (Bradbury)

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Ray Bradbury

The Veldt

1950

Summary of the Short Story

Microsummary: A couple became concerned about their technologically advanced nursery's impact on their children. They consulted a psychologist, who advised shutting it down. Tragically, the couple was ultimately killed by the nursery's creations.

George and Lydia Hadley lived in a technologically advanced house that catered to their every need, along with their children, Wendy and Peter.

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George Hadley — father of Wendy and Peter; concerned about the nursery's impact on his children; caring, worried, and decisive.

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Lydia Hadley — mother of Wendy and Peter; feels replaced by the house; emotional, nurturing, and anxious.

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Wendy Hadley — daughter of George and Lydia; enjoys the nursery with her brother; imaginative, clever, and manipulative.

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Peter Hadley — son of George and Lydia; defiant and attached to the nursery; intelligent, rebellious, and cunning.

The house was equipped with a special nursery that could create any environment the children imagined. However, George and Lydia became concerned about the nursery's impact on their children when they noticed that it had been stuck on an African veldt setting for quite some time.

"Remarkable how the nursery caught the telepathic emanations of the children's minds and created life to fill their every desire."

Lydia suggested that they call their family friend, psychologist David McClean, to examine the nursery and help them understand what was going on.

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David McClean — psychologist and family friend; advises the Hadleys on the nursery situation; observant, knowledgeable, and concerned.

In the meantime, George decided to lock the nursery, but the children managed to break in during the night. The next day, George and Lydia discovered that the nursery had changed from the African veldt to a peaceful forest setting, which made them question whether their concerns were valid.

David McClean arrived and examined the nursery, which had reverted back to the African veldt setting. He advised George and Lydia that the nursery was not healthy for their children and suggested that they shut it down permanently. He also recommended that the family take a vacation and spend more time together without the distractions of their advanced home.

George and Lydia decided to follow David's advice and shut down the nursery. However, they allowed the children to spend one last minute in the nursery before turning it off. While George and Lydia were getting ready for their vacation, they heard their children calling for them from the nursery. They rushed to the nursery, only to find that the door was locked from the outside.

Trapped inside the nursery, George and Lydia were confronted by the lions from the African veldt setting. The lions advanced towards them, and George and Lydia realized that the screams they had heard earlier were their own.

"Mr. and Mrs. George Hadley screamed. And suddenly they realized why those other screams had sounded familiar."

Meanwhile, David McClean arrived at the house and found Wendy and Peter having a picnic in the nursery, seemingly oblivious to their parents' plight.

David asked the children where their parents were, and they casually replied that they would be there soon. As David looked around the nursery, he noticed the lions finishing their meal and moving towards the water hole. He also saw vultures circling in the sky, indicating that something had died. Unaware of the true nature of the situation, David accepted Wendy's offer of a cup of tea, while the fate of George and Lydia remained uncertain.