Examples Of Dystopia In Fahrenheit 451

Though dystopian societies are fictional, they can hold similar views found in American government. However, these views are different because the time, place, and current events taking place in the dystopian societies. A meaningful quote found in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, fireman Beatty says; “What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right?” (Bradbury 31). Beatty is a fireman who burns books and and has a mechanical hound that hunts down people with books and injects them with its outstretched needle. From this quote is seems as if Beatty is a man who would maybe like to read a book, or at least have more rational feelings about books. This is a fairly often example of the dystopian society citizens

In many dystopian societies clear similarities derive from Modern day American Society, but these similarities are changed due to different government styles, and views on the world. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury books are “dangerous”, and in 2081, based on Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron equality is taken to another level, and in Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, technology is advanced and used by all citizens. When comparing these societies to the Modern American Society, the views are radical and far apart from what American citizens are accustomed to.

Books are what draw apart people in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451. Books are viewed as a way to offend people and make them upset: "You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can't have our minorities upset and stirred. Ask yourself, What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right?” (Bradbury 31).

Both societies feel equality is important to keep people happy and to make everyone feel included. However in 2081 the government thinks no one can stand out or be better for the sake of everyone to feel the same. “They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better- looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else…”(2081 Transcript- Based on Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron). While in America people are different and some people do succeed more than others. Most people living in America would feel that if they have an ability, whether it be being smart, strong, good looking, they wouldn’t want it to be covered up. In the dystopian society of 2081, every who is better than the average person must wear something that will cover up of weaken their ability. In America the Founding Fathers gave the citizens individual rights so people could succeed at something. As stated in the Declaration of Independence; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”(Declaration of Independence). The Founding Fathers believed that by granting a citizen with life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness everyone would have the same chance to