Fahrenheit 451 Corruption Analysis

When the United States Constitution was first written, it made sure that no one person could overthrow the other branches, convert to corrupt ways, and rule unjustly. The societies in Fahrenheit 451 and The Book Thief were not restricted in this way and therefore, the government figures became corrupt. The government in Fahrenheit 451 made the decision to ban all forms of media in fear of a rebellion. The governing figure in The Book Thief, Hitler, dehumanized Jews and other groups as his way of ruling. Although both of these leaders did not rule as they should, the immorality did not originate from an over-abundance of authority. It is not power that corrupts, it is the fear of losing power. Throughout these two pieces of literature, the

It should have been an easy decision, but either side posed consequences. Montag’s life changing decision happened toward the end of Fahrenheit 451. He came to terms with the corrupt government and he chose to act on it. “I wonder if they were the ones who killed Clarisse? He stopped and his mind said it again, very loud. I wonder if they were the ones who killed Clarisse!” (60). The new side of the government he saw showed characteristics he did not like. He stole many books and was faced with the consequences of it. Hans too was met with consequences as he decided to bring Max into his home. “Like many of the Jews believed, he didn’t think the hatred could last, and it was a conscious decision not to follow Hitler. On many levels, it was a disastrous one” (122). His decision about the Führer had caused him to want to help someone,

Both Max and Montag were faced with the dystopian element of the struggle to escape. They were confronted by the corrupt governing officials and were forced to flee. Max ended up captured while Montag escaped. “A German Jew was making his way through the darkness. An arrangement had been made to meet Hans Hubermann in four days (that is, if he wasn’t taken away). It was at a place far down the Amper... he would make it there, but he would not stay longer than a few minutes” (268). Because of the overwhelming power of the government, both men were forced to run. Montag was running from the Hound and Max was fleeing the Nazis. “The smell of the river was cool and like a solid rain. His throat was burnt rust and his eyes were wept dry with running. He yelled as if this yell would jet him on, fling him the last hundred yards” (64). He barely made it to safety and was given a new life to start over. After World War 2 had ended, Max was liberated and reunited with Liesel, though sadly not the Hubermanns. Overall, Both The Book Thief and Fahrenheit 451 could be considered dystopias. Hans and Montag were faced with similar struggles generated by the society in which they lived. They experienced the dystopian elements of struggling to escape, questioning the governing bodies, and realizing the wrongs in their society. The two books’ themes overlapped and stated that the books’ governments