Opposites Heine’s quote, “Where they burn books, at the end they also burn people,” perfectly exhibits how the story unfolds in the book. In Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, characters live in an unrealistic, dystopian civilization where many portrayed ideas are accepted and applied, but are despised in our world. Characteristics of a dystopian novel are demonstrated by showing how their society is different than a modern society, like the amount of suicide, social differences, and dangerous driving. For instance, the amount of suicide isn’t a concern to anyone, and the men who handle it seem to not care. For example, when Mildred overdoses on sleeping pills, the handymen “smok[e] a cigarette” showing no emotion, while Montag is very concerned for his wife’s life (15). Smoking a cigarette while trying to do a medical procedure is potentially deadly because secondhand smoke can kill people, especially when the immune system is weakened by overdose. Also, the suicide workers get called “nine or ten [times] a night” to flush stomachs and clean out the blood of victims, while acting like it isn’t a big deal (15). Likewise, the men who deal with suicide …show more content…
For instance, characters “never ask questions” and are considered to be social, since they don’t talk (30). Most of the characters are introverted and don’t ask questions or talk, which is the complete opposite of social. Furthermore, Clarisse doesn’t go to school because she is “afraid” of students because “they kill each other” (30). And yet, nothing is being done to stop kids murdering other kids; people are allowing it to happen, which is horrible. Also at school, everyone is gathered together and aren’t allowed to “talk” because it isn’t considered social (30). In their society, energetic kids get together to watch TV and play sports, but not socialize, which is the best part of