An Analysis of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451
Burning Books Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451 takes places in some sort of “perfect” world. In the novel people who “think” are considered outcasts and weird. Additionally, the population has almost completely removed books from their society. This can directly connect to modern American society in which, entertainment and material possessions seem to interest people more than books, and the small items in life remain unappreciated. Several people today do not enjoy reading. They have found an external source of entertainment in, television, radio, or music.
Similar to the novel, today’s society has begun to abandon books. They don’t have much of a free will anymore and some may call it mind control. The society in the novel seems very similar to this because they never had a chance to express themselves or have unique personalities. Furthermore, various people do not appreciate the smaller items in life and look more interested in physical objects such as, money. Moreover, in Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse mentions to Montag how drivers may have not ever seen the grass or flowers, or even looked at nature.
It seems like these two groups have completely removed “thinking” and “knowledge” from their lives in search of materials with “greater value. ” These two societies have many similarities. Particularly, modern American society has begun placing books away and looking for other forms of entertainment. Today, individuals make it seem like money and material possessions are the most important in life. Likewise, those in Ray Bradbury’s novel appear to find more interest in Parlor walls and seashell radios instead of objects that allow more thought, such as books.
