"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury

Wendy and Amy kick off Season 3 with Ray Bradbury's short story "The Veldt." In this first piece of prose in the power theme, they look at the dynamic of power between parents and children. And how does a nursery go from soothing to sinister? Pop a cork to the power of the veldt.

Links mentioned in the show:
1) Ray Bradbury's Website and link to the short story "The Veldt"
2) Our Personal Website
3) Our Buzzsprout Website
4) Paired Prosecco for this episode is Syltbar.

Next Episode: The Push by Ashley Audrain featuring DellaTorri Prosecco

Transcript

Prosecco N Prose | Season 3 | Episode 21 | "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury

Co-hosts: Wendy and Amy

To the best of our ability, this is a close transcript to the show. We hope our friends who might be hard of hearing can share in our love of literature and libation.

Wendy (W): Welcome to Prosecco and Prose Episode 21.

Amy (A): This week’s prosecco is Syltbar il Concerto.

W: This week’s prose is “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury.                          

A: Welcome back for Season 3!

W: Yes! Welcome back! We’ve got a lot of good discussion ahead.

A: I am super excited for our line-up of lit and also all these libations we’ve chosen for season three.

W: Me, too. Now if you missed what’s in store, be sure to check out our Prologue. We’ve got every short story, novel, and even prosecco pairing you can look forward to.

A: Just in case some of you want to be sipping along with us. Now we get great feedback on the lit, but not so much on the libations.

W: So we thought, why not put it out in the prologue, and with each episode announcement, so listen to then end of this one, so anyone who wants to join in on that element can. How much fun is that?

A: So much fun! So let’s start with some quick details of today’s prosecco.

Prosecco Intro

W: Okay! We have Syltbar il Concerto. It's a DOC, the most common of proseccos, a Brut, which is the driest level for proseccos, is 11.5% alcohol, and about $22 a bottle.

A: This is our most expensive prosecco of the season, but we loved, loved, loved the look of this bottle. Our trusty Vivino rates Syltbar a 4.0 out of 5 and at the end of this episode, we will give you, our rating.

W: And speaking of the look of the bottle, that shape we thought was some kind of inkblot is actually the island of Sylt, which is in the North Sea of Germany.

A: So neither of us was right. Right? And here I thought it was a vulture from our story going in for a deep dive on a fresh kill.

W: Sorry to disappoint.

A: Oh, I’m disappointed, but I think a little prosecco will help the cause. I have something that won’t disappoint though...a fun fact, 

W: Oh, love those.

A: Did you know Syltbar’s tagline is “Your happy, healthy, daily juice.” 

W: Daily juice? I can get on board with a daily juice of prosecco.

A: I kind of thought you already were. 

W: Ahhh! Maybe. I want to know about this healthy bit first.

A: So Syltbar is only 49 calories per 6 oz. glass, let me say that again...49 cals per 6 oz guys. The average for other sparkling wines is 130 calories for the same amount. And get this... it’s vegan; not all proseccos are. 

W: That is considerably less calories, so even when we drink the whole bottle... 

A: I know what you’re going to say. We won’t completely blow our diets, right? 

W: Right. 

A: My thoughts are, though, that maybe we can drink two.

W: Bottles or glasses?

A: Hmmm. Need you ask? But our partner in crime who shipped this vegan prosecco to us only sent one bottle...so glasses...I guess. 

W: Bummer. Well, cheers to that. 

A: Cheers! 

 W: Let’s get some quick initial thoughts. 

A: There was a nice thick mousse on the pour, didn’t you think?

W: Oh Yes...all over the floor.

A: That's right! Now mousse is our new sommelier term this season, which is the foam on top that forms when you pour … which might explain why the cork exploded on me.

W: It definitely might and this is why I leave that task to you. The color is pale yellow … yeah...kind of like wheat straw and you know despite the fizzy pour, the bubbles are fine, but not a lot.

A: I agree … It's a very light straw color in the glass to me. The bubbles, or perlage...

W: Last season’s term…

A: Yes... the perlage are not all uniform as they settle … I have a fine stream and a few larger individual bubbles. Haven’t seen this before.

W: Yeah! Wow! I don’t know if you smell it. But that is a yeasty smell. 

A: Ummmm...Oh! It! sure! is! It’s like a sourdough starter, right?

W: Like a bakery with an edge of vinegar. We haven’t had one like this, Amy. It’s different.

A: Quick taste before we move on?

W: Okay. I feel like I’m going to drink bread … 

A: Definitely not drinking bread. Of course, I taste the green apple … typical... maybe one of the citrus fruits? … I’ll see if I can flesh that out as we move forward. 

W: Well, I’m not getting any apple or citrus for this one … I’m not sure what I get, yet … yeast … dry … it’s different, but my initial take is I like it. 

A: I agree. This is a good first impression. We’ll see how it opens up after a bit.

W: For both of us. We have some pretty different takes already. Let’s talk about our author.

A: Perfecto...So Ray Bradbury... August 22nd, 1920—June 5th, 2012, was an American author and screenwriter. He was a prolific writer, authoring more than 27 novels and get this … some 600 short stories.

W: Wow! That’s pretty prolific. How does one even have that many stories? 

A: When one is brilliant... that’s how. I bet you and I have at least a few hundred ourselves, you just need to tap into your storytelling side, Wendy.

W: You do have a point … I actually used to give my spelling tests as a story. Didn’t always make for the quietest testing situation, but I did have their attention.

A: Awwww! See? You’ve already tapped into it, and our listeners might enjoy reading some of your funny school teacher stories on our blog. www.prosecconprose.com 

W: Not sure there is a market for spelling test stories.

A: But there is always a market to hear funny teachery stories. You never know … plus, I have a few of my own.

W: Always the cheerleader! There definitely was a market for Mr. Bradbury. He is best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451. So I realized in my research of him, I knew a lot of his writing, but I didn’t necessarily know he was the author of those writings.

A: Really!

W: Yeah … and when I mentioned this short to Ruffino, get this...he said Ray Bradbury was one of his favorite authors. Who knew?

A: I feel like I could’ve called that. Ruffino never surprises me. 

W: I agree with that statement. Now the New York Times called him “the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream.” Although he said himself, “I don’t write science fiction.” He called his writing more fantasy.

A: I can see that … but I find it’s kind-of a blend of both. And speaking of science, his mark in life is more than just in his writing … an asteroid was named in his honor … [cool] the NASA Curiosity rover landing site on Mars was called Bradbury Landing.

W: Very fitting...learn something new every day. Our story today was originally published in The Saturday Evening Post September 23rd, 1950 with the title “The World the Children Made.” It was then published in his 1951 anthology, The Illustrated Man, with the current title, “The Veldt.”

A: Now Wendy, I have also seen it spelled veld V-E-L-D. And if you want even more info on this incredible writer, like 13 fun facts, visit his website, https://raybradbury.com, which I will also link in our show notes. Quick character intro, Wendy?

W: Sure. So we have our parents, George and Lydia Hadley.

A: The Hadley’s who have given their two children, 10-year-old — possibly twins... Peter and Wendy, all the creature comforts of life one can imagine. The story suggests they are twins with the one age given...and in my opinion...they come across as entitled brats!

W: I suppose they were a tad spoiled. But honestly the whole family was.

A: I agree, they were a spoiled lot …and if I may say … a lot more than a tad. But let’s get to the spoiler summary to expound on that.

W: Alright. So Mr. George Hadley has purchased for his family the Happy Life Home Package

A: I need that

W: I know, which does essentially everything for the family … “clothed and fed and rocked them to sleep and played and sang and was good to them.”

A: Nothing was too good for these two children, Wendy and Peter, so they also got the nursery upgrade which could turn the nursery into anything the children could think up.

W: Right … which is the problem. Lydia asks George to look at the nursery one evening. She feels something is wrong with it, though she cannot explain exactly what. But she does suggest they call a psychologist in to have a look.

A: Psychologist...that was so hilarious...But the parents head off to take a look at the nursery, which has been turned into a very, very realistic African veldt …you know the hot sun … the smells … the sounds of the animals … the lions. Lydia even heard familiar screams coming from the nursery.

W: Spooked by the lions that appear to be running toward them, George and Lydia bolt from the room, locking the door behind them. Lydia questions whether the lions could actually get them and tells George the room feels too real.

A: This leads her to suggest they lock the nursery for a few days, even though an earlier attempt at doing so resulted in terrible tantrums from Peter and Wendy.

W: Lydia then suggests that they take a vacation from the house, turn everything off, and do for themselves. She feels like she doesn’t belong and the house has taken over as wife and mother and tells George it’s affecting him as well … they feel unnecessary.

A: George goes back to the nursery alone and attempts to change the scene. He was unsuccessful. When the children come home, he asks them about it, but Wendy and Peter deny it’s Africa.

W: And a quick check of the nursery proves the children correct. But when George finds an old bloody, chewed wallet of his on the floor, he suspects the children did a quick change on the nursery and locks the door.

A: Peter confronts his father the next morning warning him that he better not even consider locking the nursery or shutting off the house...or else!

W: The threats! The psychologist is called in and agrees there is a problem with the nursery, which is back to an African veldt, and tells George and Lydia they should tear the room down and send the children to him every day for the next year for treatment.

A: Gotta make a buck! Right? I felt the kids didn’t need a psychologist, they just needed their parents to be parents; establish some boundaries, people! 

W: Well, the psychologist does confirm Lydia’s fears when he tells them they have let the nursery and the house replace them as parents. 

A: So they make a plan to shut down the nursery and the home and take a family vacation after another personal item, a bloody scarf... Lydia’s scarf... is found in the nursery. 

W: A vacation to … Iowa. Right? The children have a fit when the nursery is turned off and their temper only gets worse as George goes through the house turning things off. 

A: Lydia, unable to handle the histrionics, asks George to let them have just a few moments in the nursery before they leave the house because no obviously means yes. 

W: Obviously!

A: Especially in this family. George relents and tells Lydia to turn it on for one minute.

W: Just one minute. He goes to get ready for their trip and Lydia soon joins him. While concerned she has left the children in the nursery, he concedes they will be leaving in five minutes.

A: Suddenly, the children call out to their parents and in a panic... George and Lydia go running to the nursery … 

W: … where Peter and Wendy promptly shut the door … 

A: And lock it! The psychologist shows up shortly thereafter … Peter and Wendy are having a picnic in the nursery and tell him, when he asks, that their parents will be here directly.

W: Wendy offers the psychologist tea as the lions finish feeding in the distance.

A: It’s like nothing to see here. It’s such a great short story, and I felt it read like a tragedy. You know a tragedy normally leads you to an emotional upset at the end. Did you get that feeling at all?

W: It certainly was a tragedy, what happened … though who was having the emotional upset? The children? The parents? Please expound.

A: I will, but real quick, I think it would be a tragedy if we didn’t take a minute to ask our loyal listeners to leave us a rating … 

W: … or a review … 

A: … or even just share this podcast with a fellow lit lover. You may even get a shout out in a future episode. Love the reviews we have so far.

W: Yes so helpful and thanks in advance...now back to the tragedy of “The Veldt” and finding out who is emotionally upset.

A: Let’s start with those two entitled little brats … they were emotional and upset; NOT the same as an emotional upset. My question though, do you think George Hadley is a tragic hero? Was he flawed? You know in a tragedy; we must have a tragic hero with a flaw. 

W: Hmmm … I think there is an argument for that for sure. I would say his flaw was in trying to do everything but actually parent his children.

A: Right, George was an ordinary man who was just trying to give his family the best he could provide. I think his downfall was trusting the technology.

W: Trusting that it could do a better job then he or his wife could in taking care of their children.

A: Exactly. It’s new; it’s advanced; it’s the best money can buy … I think it’s human nature to latch on to the latest and greatest technology that’s out there. Think about when new iPhones come out … people are lined up to purchase, regardless if the one they still have works.

W: That is very true.

A: I’m guilty of it. Believe it or not, I kind of felt sorry...well maybe pity for the parents in the end...even though the kids were products of their parents' choices.

W: I was kind of horrified by the end, and yes, I did feel a bit sorry for them as well, but they did still give in to their children by unlocking the nursery one more time. 

A: Which is a nice segue into our themes, but I just have one more quick thought …sorry! 

W: Yes?

A: I found this story to be so prophetic. I mean, how did Bradbury know 70 years later tech would be babysitting our children? It’s crazy.

W: It certainly makes you consider the role technology plays in our lives now. 

A: Now as we said in the prologue, we will be looking at an overarching theme of power this season and how children play a role in that power.

W: It’s going to be interesting to see how this goes. Let’s top off our glasses before we get too far.

A: Good idea. I’m still saying the label looks like a vulture. Maybe our listeners who are joining in on the libation can give us their thoughts. Any apple yet? I love the crisp finish on my tongue.

W: There’s definitely no green apple for me, but I think I have figured out what I do get … 

A: Listening!

W: It’s like when you are kneading bread and you punch the dough down … now pay attention Amy … I see you eyeing that vulture island … [can’t stop staring at it] it tastes like the air that releases from the kneading, but with a hint of citrus on the back of the tongue.

A: That’s quite specific and yeasty. Interesting, but it’s definitely still more apple and citrus for me, in the taste. I still smell the yeast though.

W: Which is so weird. You usually pick right up on the bread-like notes.

A: I can’ smell it, but I can’t taste it. I’m evolving.

W: Maybe we both are. Or we are changing into each other. 

A: Poor Josh and Ruffino!

W: What? I’d like to think they are getting the best of both of us now. It’s like double awesomeness.

A: More like double bad trouble.

W: Well, you take the good with the bad. But back to our theme of power … this story has a few power struggles going on … there’s man vs. machine … 

A: Also, children vs. parental authority … 

W: And a changing society vs. the family unit.

A: Oh agree, agree. There’s definitely a real question of authority in this piece … we’ve got our parents, who provided everything they could think of, but it’s in the form of technology.

W: Mom and the psychologist even acknowledge that they’ve been replaced by the house and the nursery where the children spend nearly all of their time. So, the parents do have a power struggle with the technology.

A: But Peter and Wendy don’t have that same struggle, which kind of speaks to how children adapt so quickly to technology today. Peter and Wendy have been able to harness the power of the house’s technology to their advantage, and they are willing to do anything to keep that advantage.

W: Advantage or power?

A: I would say an advantage is power. Agree?

W: I do, which makes me feel that the real power struggle we have in this piece is the one between the children and the parental authority.

A: And I would say the children have the power, which is sad.

W: Oh for sure. They are completely manipulating their parents. Peter and Wendy are one step ahead of their parents and their parents are only just coming to the realization of how little control they have over anything that’s happening within their home.

A: I think they sincerely believe, or did believe, the very best they could do by their children was to give them everything they wanted. Note that I didn’t say needed...but wanted. The situation with the nursery is filling the parents with doubt and questions.

W: Well …hold that... they haven’t given Peter and Wendy everything. George did lock the nursery a time before and denied them the rocket trip to New York.

A: Because 10-year-olds need to take a rocket trip.

W: Right? But when you’ve been given your every wish, as the psychologist said, “when you’ve been Santa Clause and now you are Scrooge” … 

A: Exactly. Peter and Wendy know how to play their parents. They break into the nursery after bed, they throw hysterical tantrums, and George and Lydia have no idea how to handle them. I think it’s why they are basically planning to have the family run away to Iowa. Apparently, there’s no technology there.

W: Apparently not. So our parents try to reassert their power … 

A: … but Peter and Wendy have one more power play up their sleeve.

W: It’s really the ultimate power play and WOW. [tangent on Iowa listeners (Urbandale, Lisbon, Iowa City)]

A: Yes. You know, this kind of read like some of Octavia Butler’s work … you reap what you sow … George and Lydia treated Peter and Wendy like they had the power, letting them do anything they wanted and doing whatever was necessary to please the kids.

W: … and that’s exactly what happened. Peter and Wendy took that power and exerted it over their parents. Time and again.

A: They sure did. So Weak! If you really think about it, the parents never really had any power, ever.

W: Well, they did start turning off the technology. So they had some power there.

A: But did they? Really? The fact that they had the technology in the first place shows it had the power. They were trying to keep up with a changing society and because of it, lost the family unit...at least what we know as the 1950s family unit. 

W: They certainly were not able to create a family unit, where the parents were the head and leaders.

A: No, they were not. Powerful story, right? Let’s talk about some symbols.

W: So I know at first we really focused on the nursery, remember, and I’ll let you get to that, but I got to thinking about the setting … 

A: Loved the setting!

W: The veldt, as depicted in the story, is this hot, harsh, nearly uninhabitable place, at least for the parents, George and Lydia.

A: I remember the searing sun you know and the fear of the lions driving them out of the nursery.

W: Well, it goes back to our power and who has it … [oh yeah] the children have created a place their parents do not like, are not comfortable with, and though the room is supposed to be controlled by thoughts, George cannot change the room.

A: No, he couldn’t … Now there’s also the wildness of the setting, now that I think about it.

W: Exactly. And I read this, so not my own take, but I read it could symbolize the children returning to their more wild, animalistic instincts due to the lack of humanness in their upbringing.

A: All that technology … wasn’t really that good.

W: I would say maybe not. Tell us about the nursery.

A: Well, definitely some irony in this one. A nursery is usually a place where parents take care of their children and where you know play happens … it’s usually filled with sensory toys, i'm thinking of cuddly blankets, colorful books, pleasant smells or not so pleasant smells, soft lighting … an inviting place.

W: And a very safe place.

A: But this one, as you alluded to in talking about the veldt, was exactly the opposite … too hot, too bright … the smell of heat, dust, animals, the meat smells … the sounds of thuds, rustling, screams, roars … I was in sensory overload reading this piece. And it was hot. 

W: This nursery is NOT a soothing place to be.

A: Definitely not for the parents. And George does begin to express regret at purchasing the nursery. It was supposed to get this...provide a space for the children to work off their neuroses in a healthy way. So funny. 

W: Oh they are working them off … but in a very risky way. Sure, Peter and Wendy have control of the room now, but will they always?

A: You know, that would be an interesting sequel to the story. Now moving to the lion … the king of the beasts … 

W: But not the king of the children … Peter and Wendy certainly don’t seem afraid of them … I mean, they are the ones conjuring them up.

A: Oh they are … not sure if you know this, but lions often sleep with one eye open … [what] which made me think of them as a sort of all-seeing … like a god … protecting the children from their bad parents.

W: Bad parents who are turning from Santa Claus to Scrooge...oh dear!

A: Well, that is the perception children have … I can’t have my way, because of my parents, thus, parents are bad. The lion also ties back to our theme as they are a symbol of power, and again, the children, not the parents, have harnessed this power.

W: Until that power potentially turns on the children.

A: Hmmm! Maybe … I think it’s interesting that lions in Christianity are symbols of power, yet the actual biblical references actually use the lion as a symbol of evil.

W: Well, I think as an extension of the children, they do become a symbol of evil.

A: And here the lions are being used for evil.

W: Definitely. And probably by more children than Peter and Wendy in this story. There were a couple of other symbols I found interesting … the wallet and the scarf.

A: Oh! Which were found in the nursery and belonged to the parents.

W: Right … Now both a wallet and a scarf are powerful symbols. The wallet speaks of wealth and the scarf of prestige.

A: Hmmm! Parallels to the house and the nursery.

W: Exactly … but the technology of the house basically took over the family and then the children took over the technology, and it just felt like George finding those items, especially those particular items bloodied and ruined, in the nursery was very telling.

A: Definite foreshadowing, and with the symbology aspect, this looks like a takedown of the power structure in the house.

W: For sure. Curious stuff. So fun to look at. Now I know we were also intrigued by these names … Peter and Wendy.

A: Yes … but the names made us think of the story of Peter Pan … the irony of choosing those particular children’s names, right? Peter Pan is a character with no family.

W: And a boy who never grows up. Now Wendy Darling, in the Peter Pan story, had a family, but Peter Pan wanted her to come and be a mother to the lost boys and even tried to prevent her from returning to her family.

A: Which Peter Hadley, our character from the Veldt, basically does in this story as well. He does prevent his sister Wendy Hadley from returning to her family. And he might not ever grow up, surrounded by all this technology that stunts him.

W: He very well might not … and he was able to put his sister in a  mother-like role at the end, the role Peter Pan had wanted Wendy Darling to assume … think of when Wendy Hadley offers the psychologist tea …  she is taking care of the guest, much as her mother would.

A: Very interesting parallels … you know I had to look up names.

W: Of course you did … anything of interest?

A: Would I bring it up if there wasn’t?

W: Good point. So spill … and not this prosecco, which I am quite liking in all it’s yeasty fabulousness.

A: Same. So, Peter is a name associated with material wealth. Highly intelligent, a Peter’s only negative trait is his vengeful streak … if slighted, he will carry the desire for revenge any number of years until he gets satisfaction.

W: That’s a pretty negative trait [it is] and he was very upset about the previous nursery locking, the denied rocket trip, and the new potential threat of shutting down the whole house.

A: Clearly. Wendy wasn’t as perfectly matched in our voodoo name book, but she too can be overly materialistic and should never be deliberately annoyed. Oh and don’t I know this! If it happens, you want to be as far away as possible when a Wendy’s angry.

W: Oh I can attest to that … and probably many in my family would agree. But let’s move on. And there were tantrums from Wendy in the story when she didn’t get her way.

A: They were both capable of histrionics. You know I think this would be such a great story you know for a middle school teacher … the personification, similes, metaphors, foreshadowing, the irony … so much to talk about.

W: I think the discussion would be so rich … especially thinking about the technology aspect. Now not to date ourselves too much. 

A: Careful!

W: I just think it’s important to note that we still remember a time before technology. I mean, it was there, but it was something that was mostly just at work or school, not readily in every home yet.

A: True … and kids nowadays have never been without it. It would be an interesting discussion. I agree. 

W: It really would. Before we go, thoughts on this prosecco? Pairing ideas?

A: First, it’s different and I like it. I think it would pair with any seafood, especially my homemade shrimp scampi...oh I make the best scampi or a clam chowder...maybe some hot chewy garlic bread … that would compliment the yeasty smell. What do you think?

W: I think something buttery … lobster bisque … an alfredo … risotto with salmon … or crab legs dipped in butter … a warm focaccia. Now I’m hungry.

A: Me too! Had a thought here. Remember we got Grandma Sue to try it and she thought it would pair nicely with the Lobster Roll from the Fish market down the street [Alexandria’s Fish Market] or garlicky dipping bread with oil, balsamic vinegar and spices.

W: The lobster roll would cover the seafood and bread, would be curious to try. 

A: Might just have to do that. I’m ready to hear your rating. 

W: I’d give it a 3.8. It’s not quite a 4.0 for me, but it is good. It’s just a very different prosecco for us.

A: It is. And I agree with the 3.8. I might bump it up to a 3.9 if I had a loaf of hot crusty garlic bread right now.

W: All this bread talk! We have the Toralli. Rosemary. Bread Rings. 

A: Maybe we should get uber-eats to bring us a garlic loaf...anyway...Final thoughts?

W: I’m down for some bread! Okay. While good, because I do like it, it’s just not prosecco-ey enough for me. I never did get any apple from it.

A: I think that’s a fair assessment. I’m still tasting the apple. Wendy just got the Covid shot. I had the one and done. [I had the two and done]. We give Syltbar a solid 3.8 and how about a stick of butter on the side.

W: Now that’s a pairing.

A: Nothing wrong with a little bread and butter.

W: Completely agree. Join us in two weeks when we discuss The Push by Ashley Audrain, which we will pair with DellaTorri.

Cheers!