How Does Ray Bradbury Create Corruption In Fahrenheit 451

Imagine a world where technology has advanced so far that books, magazines and other printed materials are no longer necessary or desired. The citizens sit rooms surrounded by gigantic screens that cover their walls; with a nonstop thunder of noise so smothering that one can’t comprehend the plot of the show they are watching. At night they stuff earphones, which create even more rumpus, in their ears to shield themselves from the quiet. In the mornings people drive to work at extreme speeds and amuse themselves during the day with trivial activities; they find it impossible to entertain their minds with anything meaningful. This is the society which Ray Bradbury conjures up in Fahrenheit 451. Using a variety of different themes Ray Bradbury

The Fahrenheit 451’s society has pushed this corruption to its farthest extremity. “Three White Cartoon Clowns chopped off each other’s limbs . . . jet cars wildly circling an arena, bashing and backing up and bashing each other again” (90). Television programs like this one are promoting aggressive thinking and behavior; it is actually showing people that it is ok to act out violently. As Montag attempts to escape the city, he is almost hit by a group of teenagers who were trying to run him over with their car, because they thought it was fun. Today’s society is also experiencing savage behavior that is directly connected to violent media. The Sandy Hook gunman, Adam Lanza, had a collection of violent video games, including Call of Duty; a graphic first-person shooter. Violence like this can be seen when Montag burns Captain Beatty, “And then he was a shrieking blaze, a jumping, sprawling gibbering manikin . . . a writhing flame on the lawn as Montag shot one continuous pulse of liquid fire on him” (113). It is exposure to malicious media that has led them to accept violence as a quick way to fix their problems. People today have not fallen as far as the teens in Fahrenheit 451 have; killing people for entertainment, but given examples like Sandy Hook one can only imagine where today’s society is