Examples Of Constitutionalism In Fahrenheit 451

Constitutionalist Awakenings Due To Changing Governmental Authority

Kara Kuge

4th Hour American Government

Mrs. Clark

January 2, 2023

In 1953, Ray Bradbury published the book Fahrenheit 451, inspired by the Red Scare, during a time when a fear of communism and the limitations of a government's control were being questioned. His dystopian novel is based near Chicago in the United States, where the government has banned books and censored everything the citizens see. Although many citizens in this society lived like this with no originality, a few questioned their constitutional rights and the governmental authority of the country. Constitutionalism attempts to make its way through changing circumstances of governmental authority throughout

Some citizens of the country reminisced on the past of the country and how the constitutional rights of people have changed since then. When Clarisse McClellan approaches Montag on the street, she awakes many uncertainties within Montag as she speaks of the history of firemen in the country, ¨Strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames.” (Bradbury, 1991, Pg. 2). This quote shows the first instance where Montag began to realize that his job of burning houses for the government wasn’t always instated. Showing the growing awareness of what used to be the norm and how those circumstances affected the country, Montag began to understand why books are banned and the manipulation that has blinded him. An additional realization he made about his job, was given as Captain Beatty explains the purpose of their work, ¨[Firemen] were given a new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors.¨ (Bradbury, 1991, Pg. 56). This quote evoked a turning point in the text, as Montag is exposed to the true meaning of his job, he isn’t burning meaningless works that offend people. He will soon understand that he is a pawn of the government used to censor the public from information

This was first shown as a young girl, Clarisse McClellan questioned Montag, ¨He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back.¨ (Bradbury, 1991, Pg. 9). Montag states his growing confusion after his first encounter with his young neighbor. Although Clarrise didn’t just call out the government, she marked the beginning of Montag’s thoughts on the government and its effects on his mentality. This conversation opened up a door and released all of his thoughts. Therefore, Clarisse began to expose the actions being taken by the government, and her constitutionalist ideas helped to expose this to others. Next, it was Montags turn to make a change and expose the government to others, which led to them alerting Captain Beatty to which he responded, ¨It was pretty silly, quoting poetry around free and easy like that. It was the act of a silly damn snob. Give a man a few lines of verse and he thinks he's the Lord of all Creation. You think you can walk on water with your books. Well, the world can get by just fine without them.¨ (Bradbury, 1991, Pg. 111). This quote was when Captain Beatty brought Montag to his house, and forced him to burn it and the books inside of the building together. He took