Technology In Fahrenheit 451

Scarlett Fugazy

Allen

English Honors

March 21, 2023 Further Fahrenheit Findings

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian fiction book originally published in 1951, written by Ray Bradbury. This book aims to warn readers of the potential dangers of technology and having uniform societal ideologies. Despite the time it was written, the ideas presented in this book are still prevalent in today’s society, potentially even more so with the rise of new technology every day. Specifically, in the novel, it is argued that technology negatively impacts the ability to gain individual identity through the use of imagery and theme.

At the start, Bradbury argues that technology can have harmful effects on identity through the use of metaphors. When Montag begins

Mildred’s response to Montag’s rant about reading is found here, “Books aren’t people. You read and I look all around, but there isn’t anybody… Now, my ‘family’ is people. They tell me things; I laugh, they laugh!”(Bradbury 69). Put simply, this evidence highlights how Mildred believes books aren’t conscious, and therefore insignificant, however, she believes that technology, a tv show, is important. Bradbury utilizes the metaphor “my family” to demonstrate how vital technology had become to Mildred’s life, emphasizing how that affects Montag. Her ‘family’ doesn't truly talk back to her, they are not people, not in the sense that one could hold valid conversations with others. The metaphor used here helps to emphasize the point that technology has negative effects, in this example, it highlights that technology may come in between relationships. After Montag has burned both Beatty and his house and runs to Faber, the mechanical hound is released. Montag begins to have a realization, finding more of the world he lives in, this is found here, “Montag might rise, walk to the window, keep one eye on the TV screen, open the window, lean out, look back, and see himself dramatized… a drama to be watched objectively, knowing that

After Montag has met Clarisse, they begin to talk about the world and its workings. Specifically, Clarisse begins talking about the lack of socialization in her school life, after discussing topics such as her technology class she begins explaining how classes work, “We never ask questions, or at least they don't; they just run the answers at you, bing, bing, bing and us sitting there for four more hours of film-teacher.”(Bradbury 27). Essentially, this evidence explains how impersonal her classes are. Rather than being able to ask questions and be curious, the pre-filmed teacher just tells her the answers. The ‘bing, bing, bing’ is especially helpful in showing the theme, as this sort of noise only comes from technology, along with the ‘film-teacher’ rather than just saying teacher, as most would. This is significant because learning is meant to be personalized, as everybody learns differently, which will eventually help to define identity. Through the lack of personalization, the theme can be found, which emphasizes the negative impact of technology on identity. After Montag supposedly begins to free himself from society's ideals, he begins running errands for Faber. However, Montag soon realizes that his newfound freedom is not all that it seems, this is found here, “I’m not thinking. I’m just doing what I’m told, like always… I didn’t really think of it myself. When do I start