Introduction
Fahrenheit 451 is a classic example of a dystopia in which the forces of good are trying to fight the brutal system of a totalitarian state. The book casts a glimpse into the future where books are burnt and become an insignificant part of people’s lives. The integration of technologies into the human’s everyday routine is inevitable, making them feel less free in the expression of themselves. Even though freedom is the main concept of modern society, the ideas and beliefs of individuals are still affected by over-censorship and the inability to observe reality because of technological advancement.
Fahrenheit 451
The plot unfolds in a totalitarian state, where works of art are burned in the literal sense of the word. At the same time, along with cultural artifacts, their owners sometimes die in a fire. It is believed that a person who is too educated is dangerous to the state. Only the ruling elite can be educated as they manage everything in society (Bradbury). The main character Guy Montag is a fireman who burns books and houses and does his job as per its standards (Bradbury). This man was born when everyone had long forgotten about literacy and education. He states, “We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the constitution says, but everyone made equal” (Bradbury 58). His words mean that there is no more individualism in the world, and those who stand out are either outcasts or elites.
Once, he meets a young girl Clarisse who shows him the beauty and elegance of the world. In their world, she is an outsider since her perspective differs from the rest of her surroundings. However, she dies, and Montag feels sorrow for her unexpected death as she has brought a striking thought into his life – to read books. After his daily shift, he starts contemplating: “there must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there” (Bradbury 30). Considering how everything was censured in the society, it was petrifying to even think of reading. The dissidents were cast outs as everyone should have conformed to the rules.
This idea is vividly traced in contemporary America as people are made to follow common trends. Modern teens are likely to get superficial knowledge from the influencers on social media. The mainstream information overflows people’s minds, so they start thinking alike and do not express creativity. In the meantime, those who try to speak openly are normally condemned since their viewpoint may contradict the social norms. Moreover, not many people read books but prefer following blogs and reading magazine articles. However, textbooks are just one of many other things that contain ideas and nourish one’s brain, giving an additional impetus to thinking. They store knowledge, and Bradbury proves that knowledge is power.
The other major concern raised by Bradbury is the impact of scientific advances. In the novel, Mildred, the protagonist’s wife, is obsessed with watching TV all day long (Bradbury). Her addiction becomes a catastrophe when she realizes her TV family is more important than her real one. Mildred even reports her husband for fear of losing her artificial reality (Bradbury). This proves that individuals immerse in the technological world, which attracts them with easy access to almost everything. The availability and accessibility of technological advancements placed an immense reluctance to build relationships, gain knowledge and live a full life.
The scientific progress and the development of technologies and universal mechanization not only simplify people’s lives but also make them completely subject to robots. They depend on technology and cease to be creative and interesting people. It is visible in modern American society, where individuals are getting used to the advancements since childhood. From an early age, they do not express curiosity since anything can be googled or purchased online. Therefore, by plunging into the artificial reality, humans forget to live.
The book helps understand how American people tend to simplify their lives; however, it only worsens their development as a nation. It impedes their educational goals as many young people solely rely on the Internet, where they can find an online job that does not require any experience. In addition, Fahrenheit 451 depicts modern American society where people no longer aim to grasp the profound knowledge but rather desire to obtain the extracts.
Conclusion
In summary, Fahrenheit 451 contains the history of humanity, develops the mind, and makes one contemplate modern American realities. That is why the society described by the author treats them fearfully and destroys them mercilessly. The author forces readers to think about how important books are in people’s lives because they contain so much invaluable knowledge. People become limited in the expression for their reliance on other people’s opinion. The author’s depiction of the technology-related topic is more relevant than ever because the younger generation is beginning to be more interested in fashionable things and gadgets than scientific and cultural topics.
Work Cited
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451: A Novel. Simon & Schuster, 2018.