Fahrenheit 451 was written in 1953 by Ray Bradbury, in recognition to how the world was changing and how mass media such as the television was introduced in America during the 1950s. It was believed that the media was rapidly changing culture at the time. Bradbury was influenced by the fears that the invention of the television would render books as obsolete or old-fashioned. The book explores the idea of mass media and attempts to predict a possible fallout for future society. In many ways Ray Bradbury is trying to warn people of the consequences of the growth of technology and how it can completely alter society’s view towards an idea.
The story focuses on a capitalistic society where people are extremely materialistic and where entertainment through which the government is able to maintain control through a variety of subtle structures, therefore creating an illusion to the people that they are content. The control is accomplished by the flood of mass media, which creates consumerism. People focus primarily on attaining material possessions and get distracted by the use of television and radio.
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The book sets out to describe the way that television, for example can replace how people truly think, or how information can be altered from its validity. The people in the story lose their individuality which creates a society that has lost its ability to communicate properly or for the people to think on their own. The firemen in the story are brainwashed to believe that books are to be destroyed, they contribute to how society has become and help the government maintain control. The firemen instill fear into the people and make them believe that books have no value and that in some way they are