The Role Of Technology In Ray Bradbury's Short Stories

Bradbury believes that technology is a benefactor when it comes to the aid of people’s lives. However, Bradbury is also wary of the unintentional hazards technological innovation may cause, and fears technology that seems to replace human responsibility. Bradbury sums up his doubts, stating that technology should never come at the expense of human life. These ideologies are displayed throughout the following short stories: “The Veldt,” “There Will Come Soft Rains,” and “A Sound of Thunder.” Each story contains the underlying theme that technology must be wielded with great care. Within, “The Veldt,” Bradbury uses the minds of young children and a robotic playroom in order to show an example of the unplanned perils of technology. As well as

The story depicts a post-apocalyptic fallout land, where a single house stands among the rubble and nuclear aftermath. The impact and blast radius vaporized a family leaving their shadows engraved upon the home. Within the home, robots, bent upon completing every household deed, are oblivious that technology such as themselves have killed a city. “The house stood alone in a city of rubble and ashes. This was the one house left standing.” (Page 1) The quote above shows a glimpse of the devastation that the nuclear weapon has caused, and how quickly lives must have been ended. The automated machines continue to perform daily routines without fail, despite the obvious absence of their masters. Because of the water depleted by the senseless completion of chores, it leaves the house vulnerable to fire, and the robots are unable to fend off the flames, resulting in the house being destroyed. Throughout all of his stories, Bradbury continues to criticize weaponized technology, as well as technology that seems to take over human thoughts and emotions. Once more, Bradbury demonstrates the potential negative outcomes if technology is used for the wrong purposes and without