Fahrenheit 451 Unit 1 Literary Analysis

Throughout various stories, writers place main characters in a situation in which they become oppressed by an overwhelming force. This force obstructs the character from achieving something that they want. As a result, this state of oppression enables the protagonist to strive to overcome this issue which they face. Xiomara Batista, the protagonist of The Poet X, faces an oppressive family environment due to religion and the lack of creative expression. Nnaemeka, the protagonist of “Marriage is a Private Affair,” by Chinua Achebe, struggles against cultural rules that limit her freedom. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag faces society as a repressive force. In each of these three stories, the protagonist faces a repressive force from

It also highlights how Xiomara wants freedom to express herself and is tired of the societal expectations placed on her. Xiomara’s struggle against society and family culture creates opportunities for her to express herself and defy expectations. Nnaemeka, in “Marriage is a Private Affair,” faces issues with religious tradition and society’s norms when he announces that he will marry someone his father does not approve of. Nnaemeka decides to marry Nene, who is not part of Nnaemeka and his father, Okeke’s, tribe, angering the community. Because of this issue, Okeke treats his son coldly and rejects him. Nnaemeka’s oppression by his own family and community serves as a testament to the effects of enforced marriage in many cultures. Okeke not only shuns his son, but also Nene: Teacher, did you say that? If you consider that a qualification for a good wife, I would like to point out to you, Emeka, that no Christian woman should teach. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says that women should keep silent. Owe it to you, my son, as a duty to show you what is right and what is wrong. Whoever put this idea into your head might as well have cut your

Okeke proves to act as an oppressor to Nnameka by not giving him his approval for their marriage. He expresses his beliefs against women becoming educators, which reflects on how their culture views women taking up jobs as teachers. Okeke’s dependence on interpreting the Bible literally caused him to develop these oppressive beliefs. Nnaemeka’s oppressive religious and cultural circumstances affect him and his fiancé. Finally, Guy Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, grapples with an oppressive society which affects his everyday life. Living with his wife, Mildred Montag, Guy Montag works as a fireman whose job is to burn books. He lives his day to day life never questioning any further about why he burns books, until he meets Clarisse. Clarisse teaches Montag about what life was like with books, opening Montag’s eyes to the oppressive environment present throughout his whole life. Montag experiences this brainwashing in action, especially with his boss, Beatty, said. We must all be