In Ray Bradbury’s short story ‘The Veldt’, two notable similes are used to create vivid imagery and enhance the reader’s understanding of the setting and emotions.
The first simile is: ‘The nursery was silent. It was empty as a jungle glade at hot high noon.’ This comparison emphasizes the eerie silence and emptiness of the nursery, likening it to a deserted jungle clearing under the scorching sun. It sets a foreboding tone, suggesting that something is amiss in this seemingly perfect environment.
The second simile is: ‘The lions were coming. And again George Hadley was filled with admiration for the mechanical genius who had conceived this room. A miracle of efficiency selling for an absurdly low price. Every home should have one.’ Here, the lions are described as if they are real, creating a sense of danger and urgency. The simile highlights the lifelike quality of the nursery’s simulations and underscores the theme of technology’s power to blur the lines between reality and illusion.