How Does Fahrenheit 451 Present Power In A Dystopian Society

How the presentation of power & control in a dystopian society is presented in Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World.

A dystopia is an imagined state of society in which there is a great suffering or injustice typically totalitarian or post-apocalyptic. There are many examples of totalitarian behaviour in Fahrenheit 451 that clearly present themselves as a dystopian setting. For example, the destroying of books, the brainwashing of citizens to be loyal to their duty for the government, using the media to distract the public from learning new things, using scientific invention to spy upon religious individuals and the use of brainwashing leading to emotional detachment of citizens. In Brave New World there are also many reasons that you could

In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury writes “It was a pleasure to burn.” This sets the tone for the novel showing of a key theme of 451 to be destruction. The use of the word “pleasure” shows conformity to the mindless destruction he is causing on behalf of the state. However, in BNW a visual description is presented “A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories.” This presents a dim and gloomy setting to the reader. By writing “only thirty-four stories” it presents the world to be hyper developed as to a point where 34 stories are seen to be small. By using these sentences as opening lines for the novels, both writers can create a tone of intensity and sardonicism for the book to follow. By creating this tone, it allows both Huxley and Bradbury to expand upon their ideas throughout the book. Both writers are able to convey that the protagonists of the novels are unhappy with the society they live in. For example, Montag shows his hatred to the dystopia he lives in with the frequent usage of related words “emptiness,” “vaccum” and “nothingness.” These emphasise Montag’s feelings of hopelessness in the face of a dystopian society. Huxley also presents his dystopia to be dispassionate and scornful through visual descriptions such as “the air was drowsy with the murmur of bees and helicopters.” The use of the word “drowsy” is interesting as it is not a common association

In Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury presents a character struggling with being able to reconcile with himself after he has been conformed to a lifestyle paved by the government. As a fireman, Guy Montag is tasked with burning books. He slowly begins to question his role in society and the suppression of knowledge. One example of his struggle is when Montag secretly starts collecting books and reading them to regain his individuality and rediscover the importance of literature. He feels he has no choice in his way of life, and the government is responsible for his unhappy life. This can be seen in Part I: The Hearth and the Salamander "Was I given a choice? My grandfather and father were firemen. In my sleep, I ran after them." Montag's questioning of his role in society and the suppression of knowledge is further fuelled by his individual experiences and family history. Growing up in a family of firefighters, he feels trapped on a predetermined path, as if he had no say in choosing his profession. The haunting dreams of running after his grandfather and father, who were also firemen, highlight the lack of autonomy he feels in his own life. These dreams serve as a constant reminder that his unhappiness is not solely his own doing but the