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Censorship In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

832 Words4 Pages

Kevan Patel
Mrs. Fawcett
CP Honors English 1 Period 1
26 May 2023

Knowledge: A Double Sided Coin
The value of books and the destructive nature of censorship represent two sides of the same coin, each influencing one other in a subtle battle over power and control. In his novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury illustrates the contrasting relationship between the utility of literature and the perils of censorship through the contradicting character of Captain Beatty. Within the novel, Captain Beatty, a manipulative fire chief, is tasked with upholding a society filled with ignorant citizens through his enforcement of government ideals regarding the burning of books and the suppression of intelligence. Despite his hostile stance against knowledge, …show more content…

While referring to himself and his fire troupe as the “custodians of [society’s] peace and mind,” Beatty aims to trick Montag into thinking that the “[firemen] stand against the tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy,” in order to manipulate Montag and render him incapable of threatening Beatty’s authority (Bradbury 56). Beatty’s convincing arguments wrapped around Montag like a manipulative serpent, slithering through Montag’s mind while urging him to work alongside the firemen in the struggle to achieve societal joy. In this instance, Captain Beatty acknowledges the influence that books have over an individual’s mind while actively stripping this away through the use of censorship in order to prevent future tension. In accordance, when Mrs. Blake rebels against the government’s authoritarian regime by harboring books, Captain Beatty reassures her that “[she] knows the law,” and was wondering “where [was] [her] common sense?” thus suppressing her free will and individuality. (Bradbury 35). Beatty uses Mrs. Blake as an example, a scapegoat who he can rely on to portray the negative effects that knowledge has on the mind. Beatty’s response to Mrs. Blake’s act of rebellion illustrates the lack of identity within the novel’s society, as the government holds complete control over what is deemed right and wrong, depriving individuals of the state of being able to express their self-identity. In accordance, Beatty’s utilization of censorship and literature portrays him as a contradictory symbol, as he consistently bends the strength of suppression and books to suit his

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