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451 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which paper, more specifically books, burns. As a fireman living in a futuristic city, it is Guy Montag s job to see that that is exactly what happens. Ray Bradbury predicts in his novel Fahrenheit 451, that the future without literature everything from newspapers to novels to the Bible. Anyone caught with books hidden in their home is forced out of it while the firemen force their way in.
Then, the firemen turn the house into an inferno. With pride, Montag carries out justthatUntil one day he meets a young girl of seventeen who changes his mind about everything. Clarisse McClellan knows many things that Montag has never considered. Forinstance, she recites poetry, the ideas of great philosophers, and most importantly, facts about the world s history. When she first speaks to Montag of these illicit things, he intake aback and begins to question all that he has been told. Not trusting his current knowledge and cursed with a burning curiosity, Montag begins collecting books from theirs.
One by one he reads the books, but they make no sense to him and he looks tooters for help. Unfortunately, Clarisse mysteriously disappeared and is later reported dead. But, Montag did not give up. He soon remembers an old retired English professor, Faber, he met one year earlier. Faber jumps at the chance to help Montag and together they venture into the unwelcoming world to try to show others the importance of knowing their past. In light of these facts, one theme of this story, it is not necessarily the eldest who issue wisest, can be found in the relationship between Clarisse and Montag.
The relationship that they have is somewhat difficult to figure out completely; they are so far apart in age, yet they seem as if they are in love with each other, or at least with what theater has to offer. For example, Montag is astounded by the information and opinions that Clarisse has to offer while Clarisse is interested in Montag s experiences as a fireman. Another theme could be Anne Bradstreet s quote If we had not sometimes the taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome, meaning that unless one has bad experiences, the good ones can be taken for granted. This quote proves to be true in Fahrenheit 451 because Montag s knowledge of the past is lacking and what he does know is inaccurate. When he encounters the truth, it is like an entirely different world being opened up to him. Obviously, this newfound knowledge would not be as awesome if he had known it all along.
This, along with other aspects of the book, made this novel truly enjoyable. Forinstance, the plot was incredibly original and ironic. To create a story in which the setting does not permit such a book is pure genius on Bradbury s behalf. The novel is thought provoking and one begins to question one s own knowledge and freedoms. Something else to think about was the symbolism behind the names of the characters. For example, Montag is the name of a paper company while Faber is the name of a pencil company.
The setting, a large metropolis area, also added to the novel by emphasizing the isolation of its citizens from the rest of the world, both physically and in their concerns. This was symbolized by the way the city limits immediately turned into unoccupied forests. The only thing that I felt needed improvement in Fahrenheit 451 was the role of Clarisse. She deserved a longer role in the book instead of disappearing in the beginning. Other than that, I thought the novel and its plot were intriguing and well laid out. Based on these reasons, I would recommend this book to anyone who does not like to read.
It makes the reader realize the importance of books and all the information, experiences and advice they have on their pages. I would also recommend Fahrenheit 451 to anyone who likes a novel which predicts how things could be in the future. After reading this book, I realized that I cannot imagine a world without literature or free speech. Fahrenheit 451 is undoubtedly a four star book. Needless to say, it is theirs book that I have had trouble putting down in a long time. What are the key features of the text that strike you?
What responses or reactions (feelings, associations, speculations) arise? There are many key features in Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451 that strike me. They range from little things, such as the expected technology of the future, to much larger issues including the indifference of the people when their rights are infringed. What also peaks my interest is the fact that the hobos in the novel are the exact opposite of home stereotype them today. This story is supposed to take place in the future, although it is never quite clea exactly what year. The only real timeline that we have to compare it to is Faber s information that he was an English professor forty years ago when the last of the schools were dying off.
No matter how far into the future one looks, it takes a great imagination to think up the devices that will surround us; this is exactly what Bradbury did. Such inventions as the full-wall interactive television screens which responded to the viewer were incredibly creative. Seeing as television had only been around for thirteen years atthe absolute maximum when this book was written, Bradbury used his imagination to produce an elaborate piece of technology. Another example of his talent was the invention of the Hound, a mechanical dog that can distinguish one scent from over 400 and is programmed to kill once it sees its target. Obviously, Bradbury did not overlook the details when creating this believable futuristic lifestyle.
Secondly, I was surprised by the people just accepting the fact that they were not allowed to read. Now, I am not sure whether or not this story takes place in the United States, but I know that if this right of the American people was violated, it would not go unnoticed or not cared about. Most Americans are avid about protecting their rights, especially freedom of speech and press. Without these and other liberties, we give up control over our say in government. I was appalled by the injustice done to these citizens, but even more so by the citizens willingness to let the officials commit it. Finally, what struck me as being the most odd was the fact that the hobos in Fahrenheit 451 are so much different from the stereotypical hobo of today.
For example, the hobos or homeless outcasts of today are said to be stupid drunks while the hobos ofthe novel are the well-educated humanitarians. Despite these differences, both are seen as inferior to the main stream-ers. I suppose this just goes to show that there will always be an in crowd and an out crowd. How do you look forward and back, decide, exchange your decisions, form expectations, react to their nonfulfillment, question, ponder, accept, reject, become self-aware?
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is one book that really makes you think. What happened in the past to make it this way? What does the future hold for these people? What would I have done if I were in the middle of it all?
As the reader, I began to as myself these as well as other questions. Between the time this book was written, 1953, and the time this book takes place, there is an empty block of time that has no explanation. Although it briefly discusses the experiences of Faber as a struggling professor, the story does not go into details or specifics. I want to know how something this horrendous could even begin, let alone continue for thirty years or more. What type of society would allow their government take away their freedoms and burn their books?
Upon asking myself this question, I have just realized exactly what type of society would allow that Nazi Germany. Now, I only saw this in a movie, and it was an Indiana Jones one at that, so I am not sure about this statement s validity, but in one scene, Hitler and his armies burn books by the hundreds. Regardless of the truth behind it, the Nazis are representing a society parallel to the Fahrenheit 451. That alone is a criticisms who wants to be compared to a society that commits genocide? To learn how to fix the problem, it is necessary to know the past. Without knowing how the problem began, it becomes very difficult to put an end to it.
The novel leaves off with Montag and his new friends setting out on a mission; note with immediate consequences, though. The hobos that Montag meets outside the city limits explain to him that the process of spreading the information that they have taken from books and engrained in their heads will take time. In addition, Montag was told he probably will never live to see books legalized. Although most huge changes like this take time, in this case, it is time that they do not have.
After just entering a nuclear war, the city is blown up as many others presumably were. If people do not learn why nuclear warfare bad, then there is a great chance that they might wipe out the entire human species. So, what then does happen in the future? This book is one of the most subtle cliff hangers I have ever read. Finally, Fahrenheit 451 makes the reader wonder, What if I were there If I had experienced the change, as did Faber, from reading to non-reading society, I think that I would have felt the same way he did appalled at the government for taking away my rights. But, being only sixteen, I would have been born much later and into then-reading society.
What one is born into determines what one perceives as right. Therefore, unless I had someone to tell me how it used to be, like Clarisse s family did the, I think I would act the same way that the others did concerned only with my television 344
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