Technology In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a dystopian novel published in 1953. The story is set in a future American society where books are banned, and so-called firemen are set to burn any books they find. Bradbury wrote this novel with the intention of warning readers about the dangers of censorship, conformity, and suppression of free thought and expression; Bradbury's background from when he was a child helped shape his perspective in the creation of this novel. As a kid, Bradbury saw the burning of books by Nazis and was disturbed by the idea of state control over literature. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, argues that technology negatively impacts our ability to gain an individual identity. This is done through the use of similes, allusion and

In this part of the book Montag learns that the parlor is not just walls to his wife but is seen as something vital to life. “He stared at the parlor that was dead and gray as the waters of an ocean that might teem as life if switched on the electric sun.” (Bradbury p. 69). This quote describes the parlor, a room where Mildred, Montag's wife, spends most of her time watching tv. Bradbury describes this room as “dead and gray” because it lacks substance or real life. He also says that this room has potential for life but is just in a state of dormant, as shown when Bradbury says, “waters of an ocean.”. The phrase “electric sun” emphasizes the idea that technology has the power to destroy and create. The electric sun is saying that technology in this world could have been used to create a good environment rather than one that hurts. The simile in this quote, “dead and gray as the waters of an ocean” and “might seem as life if switched on by the electric sun,” could be seen as a symbol of technology which can bring and take life from things, but can also overshadow and dominate an individual's identity. The dead and gray parlor helps represent the loss of individuality and humanity, which results from an over-reliance on technology in this society. In this quote, Mildred and Montag are interrupted by the sound of their doorbell ringing. Mildred reacts quickly to the sound, running from the parlor to the door as if panicking. “Front door cried out in the hall and Mildred ran from the parlor like a native fleeing an eruption of Vesuvius.” (Bradbury p. 89). The allusion to Vesisus in this quote suggests Mildred’s reaction to the front door sound is exaggerated and instinctive. This allusion compares Mildred and the ancient Romans who lived in the shadow of Vesuvius, a volcano known to erupt unpredictably with devastating consequences. This use of