Fahrenheit 451 Compared To Modern Day

The author chose to open the novel with a tone of menace about the streets after midnight. This helps the reader know that the society present in the story has significantly changed compared to “modern day” (The modern day I am referring to is when Bradbury wrote this book). Due to this, Montag’s thoughts consists of the uncertainty of the society, whether life is as he knows it as, or in simpler words, normal or weird. For example, page two of the novel states that “The last few nights he had had the most uncertain feelings about the sidewalk just around the corner here, moving in the starlight toward his house” (Bradbury 2). As the story develops, Montag also questions whether or not his wife is true to her word, and as Clarisse continues in asking about the strangeness of their society. This creates suspense for the story and also an overall mood for the story. In summary, the author’s tone opens the story with a tone and mood that secures the reader in reading the novel.

For example, she questions Montag in not being able to read the books he burns, as well as driving at an reasonable speed at a highway. These types of questions are illegal in society for the purpose of leaving the unfavorable past behind and focusing on the present. Clarisse states that her “uncle drove slowly on a highway once. He drove forty miles an hour and they jailed him for two days” (Bradbury 5). This is illegal due to the fact that she is encouraging on being not safe rather than on the past rather than the present. Furthermore, books are a valuable source of knowledge. Burning books can lead to failure in obtaining knowledge when it is needed. In conclusion, due to the roots of the topics that Clarisse asks, certain questions are illegal in this