There will come soft rains reading

This makes me think of the idea that caught on in the last decade or two, that one day robots will overcome man. Of course, this isn't entirely the same thing, it's the telling of robots—or electronics—that outlast man. It has an interesting twist, though, because while the sum of all these utilities, and obvious advances in technology that make it obvious just how dependent man has become on their creation...the same can also be said for the creations themselves.

In this case, technology is given purpose and reason to exist in pleasing their human masters. So the fact that they still continue to keep the house spotless, and serve breakfast, and prepare the cigar, and read poetry...it only serves to make this house's refusal to accept the fact that they have nothing to serve as almost a neurotic denial. Everything is still perfect, and on the dot, and whether or not there is anyone there to enjoy these services becomes obsolete, because the point is everything is still perfectly on time. The fire acts as the final push into insanity, as the house struggles to function and survive despite its lack of purpose.

Bradbury's story gives an interesting twist to the very cliche idea of humanity becoming so dependent on our advanced technology that we become servants to it, by giving us a scenario in which technology is still a servant—to the point of compulsive obsession.