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How fahrenheit 451 is like our society
Thematic essay of fahrenheit 451
How fahrenheit 451 is like our society
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Regardless of the rise in technology, society is not becoming anti-intellectual like the society in Fahrenheit 451. In the article, Are we living in Bradbury’s 451? by Mathew Ingram, the author provides valid arguments about technology and how it helps rather than creating or contributing to an anti-intellectual society. Technology informs the population about the news, politics, allows access to online classes, directions to locations immediately, and social interactions around the world. Not only does it benefit us however it also benefits the environment by cutting back on the production and use of paper, helping create a “greener” environment.
Fahrenheit 451 is a classic book written by Ray Bradbury. It contains 249 pages. The book opens up to a futuristic society (dystopian setting) and introduces the main character to the audience by the name Guy Montag. Guy is the novel’s protagonist who works in the fire department and specializes in burning books. Other main characters include Captain Beatty; the head fireman in charge of Guy, Mildred Montag; Guy’s bland, stereotypical housewife who is obsessed with keeping to the status quo; Clarisse McClellan, Guy’s young neighbor who is a deep lover of nature; and finally Professor Faber who becomes a very important character later on in the plotline.
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).
In the book Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s society, attempting to be utopian, bans the use of books, and owning books. If someone is caught with them, their house and the books in them are burned to ashes. For some, this may seem like a good idea, but it causes many problems. People begin to turn all their attention to technology as they no longer have a source of entertainment. They’re so focused on their TV show or radio station that they begin to not care for others to the point that even death means nothing to them.
(AGG) In the course of Fahrenheit 451, we can clearly see that the society Montag is living in very faulty. (BS-1) Montag believes that his own society is working fine. However this is because he is unaware of critical things in a human society.(BS-2)
“We have no choice, you and I, but to obey our instructions. We are not free to follow our own devices, you and I” (Dickens 247) Much like Dickens, Ray Bradbury emphases the importance of choices and how difficult it is to make one. Throughout “The Sieve and the Sand” [the second part of Fahrenheit 451] Montag is faced with life breaking decisions. Montag is under the pressures of society and the government which immobilizes him from making a decision.
“We read books to discover that we aren’t alone.” When reading, most people can find a character they relate to or are similar to. Books teach us regardless of what we are going through, there are other people who have gone through it or have felt the same way. Both books and characters can have themes whether they are major or minor themes in the book. Fahrenheit 451 is a great example of characters having themes.
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, is a uniquely shocking and provocative novel about a dystopian society set in a future where reading is outlawed, thinking is considered a sin, technology is at its prime, and human interaction is scarce. Through his main protagonist, Guy Montag, Bradbury brings attention to the dangers of a controlled society, and the problems that can arise from censorship. As a fireman, it is Guy's job to destroy books, and start fires rather than put them out. After meeting a series of unusual characters, a spark is ignited in Montag and he develops a desire for knowledge and a want to protect the books. Bradbury's novel teaches its readers how too much censorship and control can lead to further damage and the repetition of history’s mistakes through the use of symbolism, imagery, and motif.
Ever wondered how science fiction writers always seem to be spot on with their predictions of the future and the problems that come with it? Maybe they’re magic, or, in the case of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (from hereon referred to as F451), the fear of a nuclear fallout and advancing technology will do the trick. The book follows Guy Montag, on his journey from burning books to valuing books and even leaving his own life behind for them. But, it seems that the warnings and themes that Bradbury presents in this distopic future are becoming slowly and surely more like our contemporary society even though this book was published in 1953. To start, a theme that was prominent throughout this story was censorship, a theme that is showing up
Fahrenheit 451 Essay Courage enables an individual to stand up for what they believe in order to make a change. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s courage enables him to envision a different future and take action to achieve it. Initially, Montag does not question the world around him; however, he becomes aware of the limitations of his society in his search for happiness.
Many people spend their entire lives waiting for happiness to find them, unaware that they must go out and work for it. Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 shows a world where books have become outlawed, suppressing people’s knowledge, and at the same time their voices. Guy Montag, the protagonist of the story, is introduced as a book burning firefighter that helps the government oppress the people. He later encounters a rebellious teen, Clarisse, who helps alter Montag’s perspective about life. Although Clarisse’s presence is brief, she helps teach the people that waiting for happiness is futile, you must go out and actively seek it.
While death is permanent, life continues to change. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag demonstrates this idea as each time the motif of death appears, Montag’s perception of the world is distorted. The deaths of three very influential figures in Montag’s life allow Bradbury to push Montag to his limits. On each occasion where death is present, a change occurs in the way Montag processes the intricate workings of society’s influences on his life; and he begins to become more rebellious and self-aware.
Similarly to Fahrenheit 451, death being frequent throughout The Book Thief impacts Liesel’s life. However, The Book Thief is narrated by death himself. Death is not the reason why people die in the novel but he rather exists due to the reason that people are dying. He informs readers from the beginning that the novel is a tragic story as we encounter the death of Liesel’s brother in just the first couple of pages of opening the book.
The lifestyle portrayed in the classic novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is most definitely an accurate representation of a modern society. It emphasizes on a lack of core values such as family, individuality, and knowledge. The author clearly incorporates this theme through dialogue and the symbolism of the McClellan family. One of the first instances of this is during a conversation between Clarisse McClellan and the protagonist, Guy Montag when he says to her “You think too many things” (9). This demonstrates the idea that people are losing the ability to form their own perceptions and beliefs.
It’s evident that humanity has achieved seemingly impossible feats through technology and inventions; yet, it’s equally clear that technology can be a mindless distraction from unavoidable life issues that individuals try to escape. Though technology was intended for good, something people can benefit from, it’s become a quick escape for people so that they may easily sit and drool before a colored screen instead of applying themselves to something meaningful. Television and social media has hindered humanity because of its uselessness. It is an unnecessary addition to people’s daily routine that ultimately allows people to pretend to be involved in society, but in reality it creates a means to evade responsibility and endeavors.
