The Veldt, Miriam, And The Symbolism Of Children

“The Veldt,” “Miriam,” and the Symbolism of Children Children are the epitome of innocence, inquisitiveness, and . They overflow with courage and imagination, traits that seem to wear off with age. To parents, children are a symbol of pride and hope for the future. It is alarming when children are represented in ways that do not conform with the iconic images we have of children and childhood in general. Norman Rockwell would be aghast by these children. Deep examination of Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt,” and Truman Capote’s “Miriam,” introduces the reader to images of horrifying children. These children symbolize rebellion, selfishness, and violence. How can a child, on the one hand, represent blamelessness and unconditional love, while on

The children in these stories did not take the adults authority seriously and even seemed to strong arm their way to get what they wanted. In the case of Peter and Wendy, they got whatever they sought after because their parents did not have to play an active role in their caretaking, the HappyLife Home performed the task for them. George and Lydia confronted the children about spending so much time in the veldt, but they denied it. Peter told Wendy to go see, and while she was away she changed it to a forest with a singing Rema. She bluntly lied to her parents which shows she knew it was wrong to spend so much time watching animals kill. For Miriam, she used fear to control Mrs. Miller, especially when she slammed the vase to the floor when Mrs. Miller would not kiss her good-bye. All three of these children show a proclivity towards violence, that ends in a gruesome death for George and Lydia Hadley. The reader is unsure of Mrs. Miller’s fate, but if it is anything like the rest of the story, Mrs. Miller is in for more terror from Miriam. These children controlled the adults to get what they

Miller and the Hadley’s greatly underestimated these children. The adults wanted to love and trust them but, in the Hadley’s case, it was a fatal choice. Peter and Wendy lured their parents into the nursery, they had to recognize the lions would eat them. Miriam wanted to suck the resources out Mrs. Miller, this kind of burden did not occur to the girl. The roles are switched in these stories and the children wield great power over the adults in terrifying ways. Mrs. Miller, George and Lydia should have stood up to the kids instead they allowed the culture of rebellion to flourish. Although children symbolize innocence, in the context of these stories, the children signify selfishness, violence, and manipulation. “The Veldt” takes two children and shapes them into spoiled parent killers, while “Miriam” presents us with a little girl who is psychologically tormenting a lonely, elderly woman by the same name. These stories are staggering because they contradict the deeply entrenched perceptions society has of children: blameless, loving, curious presences who can bring so much love and joy to their caregivers. Seeing them portrayed otherwise is