Journal #3 Novel Study Fahrenheit 451 Set in the futuristic world controlled by media, Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of the protagonist Montag, a fireman whose job is to burn book, his search for knowledge and self-identity. Books are considered illegal and banned because they make people think and question. I feel sympathy for Montag as his wife does not have any emotional attachment to him as she only care about her “family” on the parlor walls and betrayed Montag by reporting to the firemen that he has books in his possession. Montag also faces numbers of obstacles in his journey for self-identity. Fahrenheit 451 shares many similarities of the setting in the novel The Giver.
Thus, suspicions will arise and the fire department will not operate properly. However, Faber thinks that humans tend to destroy one another. Even if books are not burnt, the public will not digest the content and gain the knowledge in them. Therefore, he advises Montag to understand the knowledge in books and memorize it instead of relying on other media to record them. It is a sound advice because understanding is the most important part of reading and the knowledge can be passed down better if Montag understands it.
I looked around. The only thing i positively knew was gone was the books i’d burned in ten or twelve years. So i thought books might help’” (82). This quote shows that Montag is confused about why he is unhappy; on the other hand Faber acknowledges that Montag does not necessarily need books to be happy, but he needs what once was in the
“If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.” -Juan Ramon Jimenez. Things are lead the wrong way when technology becomes more developed. There are a lot of things that are changed, and the change is not for the better. People are just to in sync to notice that things aren’t right at all.
Webster’s Dictionary defines character as, “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual”, these qualities can range from a simple opinion, to an action, to a character’s lifestyle. While Guy Montag from Fahrenheit 451 and Wade from Ready Player One are both uniquely distinct, they share many qualities that unites them as one. The first similarity of the two characters is that they both come from a world where modern technology consumes everyone’s daily lives, and both Wade and Montag must realize that a virtual reality, whilst perfect in sense, is not the truth. Montag realizes this after Clarisse asks him if he is truly happy, his immediate answer is a defensive yes, but after his wife tries to commit suicide, and Montag starts to think about his situation, he realizes that his response to Clarisse was a lie.
Knowledge is Important Could the world, as it is known today, still exist without knowledge? In Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, the society that Montag lives in is shielded from knowledge. In Montag’s world reading books is illegal to read books because the people are afraid that the books might offend people. However, instead of helping the society, the absence of knowledge has made the people in their society ignorant and unaccepting of change. Knowledge is important because it provides power, educates ignorant people, and helps express individuality.
When the fire chief finds Montag’s two-way earpiece to communicate with Faber, he says, “‘We’ll trace this and drop in on your friend’ ‘No’, said Montag” (Bradbury 112). Following up on Faber’s advice, Montag refused to become a bystander, for his belief had been reinforced, which allowed him to stand up to the Fire-chief, and protect his friend who was preserving the wisdom of books. Montag’s simple response “No”, clearly describes his decisiveness and the inner sense of responsibility he has for Faber, who has guided him during the preceding months. Montag succeeds in resisting the fire-chief, and joins a hidden group of scholars, who advise, “‘Walk carefully. Guard your health.
As Montag learns the truth about his fraudulent society, the theme reveals itself to be that knowledge is crucial to prevent an ignorant society. This theme is thrown all around the book and was hard to miss as it was hinted at throughout the whole story, even at the beginning when Montag notices “The whole world pouring down”. The fire gushing up in a volcano. All rushing down in a spouting roar and riveting stream toward morning. ‘I don’t know anything anymore,’ he said” (15).
Knowledge is power because in Fahrenheit 451, if Montag didn’t know about what books withheld, he wouldn’t have understood how corrupt his city is. He wouldn’t have understood why the firemen burned books, or why people died for books, or even why books are outlawed. After he read books and learned it opened his mind to a whole other world, completely opposite of what he realized. After he discovered this he realized he could change how his world is and put an end to book burnings and books being outlawed.
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury argues that knowledge is essential and can be censored easily if technology hypnotizes society. Beatty is talking to Montag explaining how their society came to be. He gives him this example, “Coloured people don’t like Little Black Sambo. Burn it. White people don’t feel good about Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Annotated Works Cited Eller, Edward E. " An overview of Fahrenheit 451. " Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2014.
Montag followed Faber’s instructions by traveling down a river that takes him to safety, keeping him ahead of the Mechanical
The Power Of Knowledge People can rely on literacy and social awareness to help them be better aware and more thoughtful. But when people have neither of these skills it can harm the view they have on their surroundings. Fahrenheit 451 is an example of what would happen if social awareness and literacy were looked down on. In the society where the story takes place in not many are socially aware or can read. This lack of awareness and literacy drives people to take great lengths for their beliefs and wants, this is a problem because they don't think about the consequences their actions will have.
Juan Solis Writing Style in Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury’s style in Fahrenheit 451 is unique, and it helps add to the story’s atmosphere and tone. Bradbury structures his sentences in such a way that it makes the described situation feel heavier, and more meaningful. His vocabulary adds a rich sense of imagery, this is also combined with his use of figurative language throughout, compliments it further. These things come together to form a type of style that’s powerful, bizarre, and even confusing at times.
Here, Faber is in his house telling Montag about how books bring life into the world. Faber is letting Montag know that books are important not because they are books, but because of their meaning. As difficult as they can be to deal with, the pores are the perfect imperfections needed to make the world great. Bradbury shows that books and knowledge are vital and that censoring books robs the world of individuality and freedom. “Give a man a few lines of verse and he thinks he’s the lord of all creation.
