Lydia asks her hasband, George to check the nursery, the virtual reality room that can create any sinario the owner demands. They are concerning about the room because their children spend too much time with it(最初はLydiaから。Georgeはこの部屋に対して何も不満ではなかった). George discovered his old wallet which smelled of hot grass and a lion in that room.(ここで妻に同意)
Therefore, they locked the room dispite their children' argument. However, during the night, their children break into it. The next day, George led David come to visit their house and examine the room. He reccomends George to bring to him during the next year for treatment.(この家では、家事や子どもの手助けはすべて家がおこなってくれる、つまり、家が母と父の役割をしている。) George tells his wife he regrets buying them the nursery, and they decided shut the house off on their vacation. Due to children's claim, they allowed to let them in the room for one minute. The parents abruptly hear the scream from the room and get into the nursery to check if their children are alright. The door was slammed by Peter and Wendy. The parents are fed by the lions. When McClean came back, the two children were sitting in the glade eating a picnic lunch.
Character
George Hadley...父、frank, spoiled kind towards his children. later on, he regrets due to the house's negative effects on his wife and children.
Lydia Hadley...母、an anxious person, spoiled mother. frightened by the nursery and its African Veldt.
Peter...息子、名前はピーターパンからきた, precocious(早熟) and clever, obstinate(頑固) and disrespect towards his parents
Wendy...娘、名前はピーターパンからきた
McClean...a friend of Geoge, a psychologist. a generous person who is trying help improve the family's circumstances.
Questions
・How are George and Lydia characterized? What are some differences in their parenting philosophies? What do their different reactions to the lions reveal?
At first, George was not take the room seriously or rather, he was thinking that the room improved their children's perspectives, emotional element while Lydia had the feeling that the room is too realistic and insists George that it should be away from their children.
When George and Lydia escaped from the lion for the first time, George ,laughing seemed like he was enjoying in the situation wheareas Lydia was crying.
・What life choices does the story seem critical of? How does Bradbury invite readers to criticize the characters portrayed?
Relying on technology too much makes human non-human; less emotional element, less ambition, lack of affection etc...
In this narrative, their children seem recognize their house as genuine parents rather than genuine parents, which suggests that doing nothing and leave parental roles and domestic tasks to technology makes people much uneasier and insecurer like Lydia.
・Why might Bradbury have chosen to put the climax right at the end of the story? How would the story be different if he had to write falling action? What does the final section with the picnic and David McLean add?
・Peter as in Peter Pan who refused to grow up in a fantasy world in which they are able to fly and to become involved in all sorts of exciting adventures. The names symbolize the children never wanting to grow up. They create their own version of Neverland(The African veldt) where they try to escape reality. To pursuade to live in immortal world, he abandons his parents on purpose and takes Wendy with him.
