The Lions ("The Veldt")
In the first story in the collection, "The Veldt," the lions in the virtual reality playroom are symbols for what the children have become as a result of it. They insist on keeping the playroom turned to the setting of the African veldt, where lions prowl and feast on their prey. These children have clearly been corrupted; in the manner of a lion, they lure and kill their parents in the playroom. At the end of the story, the psychologist notices that the lions in the room have recently killed prey and are feasting on the remains.
The Man ("The Man")
In the story "The Man," the titular man is supposed to be Jesus, representing joy and the fulfillment of human life. Accordingly, all civilizations touched by this man are joyful and whole, while those without him are selfish and despairing. The Man is a symbol of goodness in a dark universe.
The Rain ("The Long Rain")
In the story "The Long Rain," astronauts stranded on Venus must reach the safety of the Sun Domes, struggling against the bitter and incessant rain. This rain symbolizes the depressing nature of life without hope; it obscures everything and beats down on a person, trying to take away all hope of escaping the dark, eternal prison. The story is of astronauts trying to find peace in a hopeless world, and the ceaseless, heavy rain is an apt image of the threat of despair in life on Earth.
The Sun Domes ("The Long Rain")
The Sun Domes, the intended destination of the astronauts on Venus, represent more than themselves as well. They symbolize hope, the only refuge from which one can escape the ceaseless torrent of despair. Without the hope of something to live for, there is little reason to continue living, as evidenced by the astronauts' suicide and loss of sanity. The first Sun Dome the astronauts reach is broken and therefore useless, meaning that hope is sometimes not fulfilled. Perseverance in hope, however, leads to life and safety, as the reader sees through the lieutenant's perseverance paying off as he reaches a functioning Sun Dome.
The Rocket ("The Rocket")
In "The Rocket," a father saves up his money to send one family member on a space voyage, but when his family can't decide whom to send, he instead uses the money to construct his own "rocket," a rocket-shaped theater that simulates a space voyage, allowing all of his family members to partake in the experience. This rocket symbolizes hope and imagination: it doesn't actually leave the ground, but it activates the children's imaginations and reminds them of the wonders of life.
