Comparison Of 1984 And There Will Come Soft Rains

Even though all three Sci-Fi stories, “1984” by George Orwell, “The Veldt”, and “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbery present the idea of a world taken over by advanced technology. The stories offer different ideas about how tech might affect us as humans, whether in the past or the future. The stories show predictions of what the future of tech might hold for the human species, and how the tech we have today could evolve into something more substantial. In the story “The Veldt”, the setting is a family of two adults, George and Lyidia Hadly, and their two children, Peter and Wendy. Who are living in a futuristic smart house called “The Happylife Home.” The parents think they have the perfect life with everything done in their domestic

instead of letting the shoe tier do it... anything but look and listen and smell” (page 8). This shows how the house positively affects the family. But their children may be spending a bit too much time in the African veldt, given to them by the futuristic nursery. The nursery was meant to show the kids' imagination, but the parents decided to shut it off when Wonderland and magic lamps turned to killing and death. For example “The room has become a channel toward destructive thoughts, instead of a release away from them.” (page 9) While the story “There Will Come Soft Rains” is set in a nuclear wasteland with a dystopian-like abandoned smart house, it hints at very advanced technology. For instance, “...tiny robot mice darted... the small cleaning animals.” (page 1) and “Today is August 4, 2026. Said a second voice from the kitchen ceiling.” (page 1). This shows that even though the house is abandoned it still completes its daily tasks, and shows what it might look like if someone did live in the house. The house shows its flaws when the only visitor, a dog who just can’t get to the warm food made every day by the

An example of this is, “The telescreen is received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made...would be picked up...” (para 5). The use of language shows how one piece of technology is used to constantly send information to the government. Implying the slogan of the book, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING” This dystopian world has tech that could be used to better a community’s safety, but has sadly gone overboard, resulting in a world where privacy is diminished. This story was written in 1949, meaning even in the past human minds were exploring the idea of technology taking over. While the outcome of the story has not become a reality yet, could Orwell be correct in his predictions for the near future of our tech world? Science All three Sci-Fi stories, “1984” by George Orwell, “The Veldt”, and “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury proclaim the idea of a dystopian and utopian society taken over by advanced technology. The stories offer different ideas about how tech could affect us as humans, whether in the past or the