Wendy and Peter are characterized by:
* Obsessive Dependence on Technology: Their primary focus is on the Happylife Home's "nursery," a virtual reality room that caters to their every whim. They are consumed by the world within, often neglecting their real-life responsibilities and interactions.
* Lack of Empathy and Emotional Maturity: They demonstrate a disturbing lack of compassion for their parents and a disturbingly casual acceptance of the simulated death of the lions in the nursery. They are also quick to turn on each other, as seen in their arguments and competitive nature.
* Manipulative and Demanding: They use their emotional power to control their parents, exploiting their desire for a peaceful family life. Their demands are often unreasonable and self-serving, like wanting to keep the nursery despite its dangerous nature.
* Unhealthy Attachment to Fantasy: They prefer the artificial world of the nursery to the real world, exhibiting a disconnect from reality and a lack of understanding of the consequences of their actions.
* Potential for Violence: While not explicitly violent themselves, their fantasies in the nursery reveal a deep-seated aggression, culminating in the horrifying conclusion of the story.
Their behavior is driven by:
* Neglect: The parents, George and Lydia, are too focused on their careers and maintaining a perfect image to truly connect with their children. This lack of attention and genuine interaction creates a void that the children fill with their obsession with the nursery.
* Control: The Happylife Home, designed to provide ultimate comfort and convenience, ultimately strips the children of agency and responsibility. Their lives are dictated by the technology, fostering their passivity and dependence.
* Lack of Boundaries: The parents' attempts to control the nursery are ultimately futile, as the technology itself becomes an uncontrollable force. This lack of boundaries allows the children's fantasies to manifest with dangerous consequences.
In conclusion: Wendy and Peter in "The Veldt" are not simply spoiled children but rather complex characters whose behavior reflects a deep-seated psychological imbalance. They represent a chilling cautionary tale about the dangers of technology and the importance of parental involvement in shaping children's lives.