Acclaimed internationally as a masterwork of twentieth-century literature, Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, presents an American society in the future where any form of literature or textual material is outlawed and “firemen” are ordered to burn any books that are found within their society. In a world where technology rules and literary works are on the brink of extinction, the reader witnesses a couple major themes of Bradbury’s work: man versus the natural world and, of course the most prominent theme, the censorship of literature and writing. As a reader, one ultimately discovers that TV reigns supreme in the future because of the pleasure or contentment it offers to the human race. As the story goes, people tend to be happier when …show more content…
Essentially, censorship prevents content from any medium to be withheld from the people of a particular society. Human beings are no longer allowed to express themselves the way they deem best. Society cannot fully disclose their own thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. Back in the era of World War II and the reign of the Nazis in Germany, they burned all books and literary works of the people. If a person had been caught with a book, their punishment could have easily been death, on the spot, no excuses. Now, in the twenty-first century we have the terrorist group ISIS trying to gain control. And in the quest to control, they have begun burning books and timeless pieces of literature. In the article, “Bonfires of Insanity: A History of Book Burnings From Nazis to ISIS,” the author, Robert Corn-Revere writes, “That such barbarous acts are being perpetrated in the birthplace of writing and of civilization itself makes them all the more tragic. But it hardly makes them unique.” And, what he says is true. The ritual of burning books that espouse hated ideologies is most likely one of the oldest forms of …show more content…
They're Caesar’s Praetorian Guard, whispering as the parade roars down the avenue, ‘Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal.’ Most of us can't rush around, talking to everyone, know all the cities of the world, we haven't time, money or that many friends. The things you're looking for, Montag, are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine per cent of them is in a book. Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore.