According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word knowledge is defined as “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.” Through life experiences one is able to develop knowledge and a good understanding of society as a whole. In the fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury and the autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass one is able to see the many similarities between the two books. David Bailey said, “The best advice I ever got was that knowledge is power and to keep reading.” Through reading, one is able to increase his or her knowledge which can help one better respond to a situation. In this essay, the author will show how the books are similar through their educational environments, through their teachers who knowingly taught even they knew it was dangerous, and through the small taste of reading which makes it an unstoppable desire to learn more and help others.
Living in an environment where education especially reading is forbidden can affect one’s life. In Fahrenheit 451, the government banned books from society in order to maintain control of the people. They believed that if people were given the opportunity to read, they would be able to think which would lead to question and ideas. Without ever being given the opportunity to read, no one would have different opinions and never question authority. Reading is forbidden in order to maintain control over the people. Likewise, in the autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, plantation owners believed salves should not be taught how to read or they would become unmanageable. Slaves did as they were told and if they did not, they were severely disciplined. Never being allowed to develop their own thoughts slaves would continue to serve their master for the rest of their lives. In both of these books, the government and plantation owners limited the exposure of reading and were forced to live in an environment without the ability to express one’s own ideas. Both Montag and Douglass wanted to gain knowledge through reading.
The desire to gain knowledge helps one to live and to experience the world. This desire drove Montag and Douglass to read and learn more about the world. In Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse, Montag’s neighbor, opens his eyes about the emptiness of his life and Montag becomes dissatisfied and tries find hope in books. An ex-professor, Faber, agrees to teach him how to read in secret. His craving to read prepared him to understand and experience society for what it is. Similarly, in the autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, as a child he spent most of his time in the house rather in the fields, his plantation owner’s wife not being accustomed to slaves was at first kind all the slaves and even taught Douglass how to read. This created a determination in Douglass to read and learn more. Finally, understanding what slavery was, and understanding that it was more about keeping the slaves in the dark in order to maintain control over them. Through reading Montag and Douglas gained knowledge of their environment and used that knowledge to help others.
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Reading and understanding might seem like a simple task, but to those who are not given the opportunity, it is worth more than money. After Montag was introduced to reading he did not want to stop. He was more determined to learn more and wanted to spread his knowledge to others. When rebuilding society, Montag wants to rebuild a society that included books. Just as Montag when Douglass learns to read, he is unstoppable, and wants to learn more about the world, and with his knowledge he begins to teach other slaves to read, so they too are able to understand slavery for what it is and how to escape it both mentally and physically. Both Montag and Douglass when given the smallest amount of an opportunity to read they take full advantage of it. Not only learning for themselves, but also teaching others about what they have learned. The taste of reading immediately made them want more even though they knew the dismal consequences they would face. It was believed that reading was not necessary, but it did not stop the longing for freedom of both Montag and Douglas.
Reading nowadays seems like a chore to many, but the ability to read and understand is something that the people cannot overlook. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury and the autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, both Douglas and Montag strove for knowledge and to understood the value it offered. The musician Jesse James Enoch said, “knowledge increases by sharing but not by saving.’ One may have all the knowledge in the world, but it is worthless if he or she does not share it with others. Not only is it important to have a desire to learn but also to be able to experience life.
