Rimland Rules Eurasia In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Niya Justine
English 2A
March 30, 2023
Fahrenheit 451 Essay

“Who rules the rimland rules Eurasia; Who rules Eurasia controls the destinies of the World” (Spykman 154). This is the backbone of Rimland theory, the concept of controlling a small group and the larger mass will follow in a shared pursuit. As a philosophy Rimland theory has been used since ancient times for territorial expansion, and up until the modern day for the monopolization of industries. Such a theme is conveyed in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, where technology is the driving influence for peoples thought process and decisions. In a society where media and technology are widespread, the citizens who indulge in it are swayed to always agree and side with the

This is shown by Beaty in his pep talk to Montag: “ There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no! Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick..” (Bradbury 55). By using media their society has effectively mimicked the effects of censorship without any external government or formal action. It’s an appalling thought that is related to Nicholas Spykman’s Rimland theory. By influencing individual parts of people's lives they all slowly lose individuality and begin acting the same. The same concept is the core of peer pressure and influencing. Once a group of people set an example and show that it’s an enjoyable activity everyone wants to do the same thing. As a political tool Rimland theory has been used for thousands of years by grand empires to even modern day companies. The parlor walls “tell you what to think and blasts it in. It must be, right. It seems so right. It rushes you on so quickly to its own conclusions your mind hasn't time to protest..” (Bradbury 80). This statement from Faber dives into the persuasive nature of the media and its undeniable attractiveness. Faber in the story is a very morally deep character and he’s motivated to believe in the right thing even if he lacks the confidence to act on it. For him to admit that the parlor walls are convincing is a deep delve into its manipulation. It’s similar to how

The society of Fahrenheit 451 has made it abundantly clear that over time technology has replaced human creativity and interaction. This is shown through Clarisse as she says, “...at the museums, ... All abstract. That's all there is now… A long time back, sometimes pictures said things or even showed people.” (Bradbury 28). Museums are typically a documentation of the lives and morality of society. The changes and shifts in human perspective and creativity are juxtaposed through works from the renaissance and the depression periods verses from the golden ages and modern day. This documentation is a means of showing the desire to progress and value creativity, but if that desire gets snuffed out it reflects a society that is blank and poreless. This is furthered as Clarrise says, “No front porches. My uncle says there used to be front porches… My uncle says the architects got rid of the front porches because they didn't look well; the real reason, hidden underneath, might be they didn't want people sitting like that, doing nothing, rocking, talking; that was the wrong kind of social life” (Bradbury 60). This shows just how much the society of Fahrenheit 451 has developed a barrier between each other. They put up screens between the people around them, their past, and their thoughts. Suppression and disconnection from thoughts and emotions in this way is detrimental