Table of Contents
Theme
Fahrenheit 451 is open for interpretation and the reader can derive many themes as it is read. A highlighted theme in the novel is the censorship of literature over society’s freedom of imagination. In the novel, society gives up on the idea of reading and being able to escape reality through literature. Captain Beatty gives Montag an explanation as to why literature has been looked down upon but Montag’s curiosity about reading is more than Beatty’s speech can stop. In Beatty’s explanation, books create more problems within society and cause stress that can be non-existent. Therefore, society makes the decision that life is better if books were destroyed. However, the observation that Montag has made throughout his career makes him believe books have something more than what is described. After going to Faber, Montag understands that books hold useful knowledge and want to spread it with society. Therefore, Montag is at the start of beginning a new society to spread the knowledge that books hold.
Title
Fahrenheit 451 is a perfect title for this novel. The title symbolizes the temperature at which paper burns. The novel is about burning books so the title fits well. The title does appear in the book especially when telling about why books are burned. The title, Fahrenheit 451 is not directly connected with the theme although it can be connected to the events that happen in the novel. Therefore, this novel could not have gotten a better title as it symbolizes the temperature at which paper burns.
Style
The style of Fahrenheit 451 uses many literary devices that include similes, metaphors, and personification. This can be seen in Bradbury’s writing when Montag is floating downstream as the river is described as “mild and leisurely” in the novel. However, figurative language is used in different ways throughout the book. At the beginning of the novel, Bradbury uses a more negative connotation to give fire violent representation. Closer to the end of the novel, Bradbury’s wording becomes brighter to gives fire more of a positive connotation because it is used to create a new life. Bradbury meant to use descriptive words to enhance the novel. These words help the reader imagine and go into a world that they have never experienced.
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Fahrenheit 451 is an enjoyable novel that has many lessons to be taught. This novel shows that we should not be obsessed with media all the time and I connect with that. I strive to have strong connections with my friends and family. This novel is a representation of what not to do and that’s why I enjoyed the book. I am not the biggest reader but I do think I would enjoy reading another book by Bradbury. I would recommend this book to anyone because there is a lesson that needs to be taught.
Ray Bradbury was born August 20, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois, which was where he spent most of his life. Later in Bradbury’s life, he published Fahrenheit 451 in 1951 and connects many events that happened at this time in the novel. Growing up, Bradburry lived around a fire station in Waukegan, Illinois. Bradbury started writing Fahrenheit 451 when he heard about Germany, Russia, and China burning books. During World War II, the Nazis burned books in the street to promote the idea of censorship. When Bradbury heard about this event, it hurt him because he had a connection with libraries and books. Bradbury was never able to go to college to get an education. Therefore, libraries were Bradbury’s source of education when he was growing up. That is why the burning of books in Germany hurt Bradbury. At this time television was also being introduced to society and Bradbury was worried about where life was going. In an interview, Bradbury states that Fahrenheit 451 is “a story about how television destroys interest in reading literature.'(‘Ray Bradbury Reveals the True Meaning of Fahrenheit 451: It’s Not About Censorship, But People ‘Being Turned Into Morons by TV?’) When the novel was published, television had already been introduced and Bradbury was worried about where society was going at this time. Therefore, Bradbury wrote to acknowledge the negative aspects of technology and how it could affect society. In the novel, television gained popularity and society was more interested in new technology than literature. Another event that happened Fahrenheit 451 is the occurrence of censorship in the United States. As Bradbury was writing the novel, free speech and free press had been censored because of the events happening around the world. The government was controlling what the press had to say to prevent chaos in the US. Along with the censorship going on, political repression and conformity were occurring around the world. In Fahrenheit 451, society had to conform to the laws which were in place. Literature was not prohibited and if a person got caught with a book in their possession, they would be arrested and their book and home would be burned. In the real world, the Soviet Union had created a dictatorship and everything was controlled to give off the appearance the Soviets were strong. The Soviets Union would enforce all laws strictly and if a citizen did not comply, they would have gotten corrective actions.
My Response
In this review for Fahrenheit 451, I agree that the majority of what the author said about the novel. One thing in the article that stuck out to me what how the author wrote about how Bradbury told how the “villain” is the lifestyle of Americans in the novel. At first glance, the government is the people against books. In reality, it is actually society who is against literature. In the novel, Bradbury wrote that society would be the cause of their own downfall because he had little faith in humanity. The author of the review continues to write about how Bradbury never actually had a point to contradict Beatty. This is one thing that I think is false when it comes to the book review. Beatty is not a good person in this novel. When Montag was trying to first start reading, Beatty released a killer robot to try and find Montag but the robot could not come into his home. Beatty also never tried to fix the robot when it tried to attack Montag the first time. Therefore, I believe Beatty has something against Montag. Another thing talked about in the article is how Bradbury meant for the books to be the hero and not the people. I can see where Bradbury is coming from but books are the main death of many lives in this novel. I do not think that books are the heroes They could help inspire the hero but books are what make the people want to make society better. Therefore, the books are not the hero. Another thing I disagree with the argument is Bradbury writes it is human nature to make a dystopian conformist society. I can see how the author of the article might think this but because it is human nature to try not to stick out. People do not like to stick out because it opens them up for judgment and that scares people. So they try and conform but in reality that will not work because everyone is different Therefore, a dystopian conformist society is impossible because all humans have a different thinking process. It would lead to everyone fighting which would eventually lead to the downfall of society.
