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  • Essay / Dystopian Society in The Fahrenheit 451

    As Dr. Seuss once said, “The more you read, the more you will know.” The more you learn, the more places you will go. The short story Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is essentially about a futuristic dystopian society that has subjugated the population. The short story was written in the 1950s, during the McCarthy era, when many Americans were falsely accused of being communists and trying to overthrow the United States government. Additionally, it was also during the Cold War and the time when television became the medium of mass communication. Fahrenheit 451 essentially reflects the period in which it is set, a time that focuses on how originality and individual independence are compressed by the advertising industry and by government ideology. The main character, Montag, is a fireman whose job is to burn books and with them the ideas they contain. At the beginning of the short story, Montag's state of mind is closed; he accepts society as it is. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Every individual is supposed to think the same thing, and at first Montag doesn't believe that's a problem. But as the news continues, Montag's state of mind begins to change. Montag's transformation from a closed-minded individual to an open-minded individual was influenced by Professor Faber and Clarisse. Professor Faber taught Montag not only to read the text given to him, but also to deeply understand the meaning of the text. As Professor Faber mentioned, “It's not the books you need, it's some of the things that used to be in the books. The same things could be happening in “living room families” today. The same infinite details and consciousness could be projected through radios and televisions, but are not” (Bradley, 39). As Professor Faber stated, it is not only books that society needs, but also the knowledge that comes from books that needs to be obtained and digested. Initially, the media broadcasts incompetent information to entertain individuals, but not to educate them. With the help of books, they give individuals deeper thinking which cannot be discovered through entertainment but through reading. Since Montag is a fireman whose job is to burn books, due to the society he lives in he gets useful information from the radio rather than books because in a dystopian society books are banned and media are encouraged. That being said, Professor Faber played a role in Montage's transformation because Faber essentially paved the way for Montag to have a different perspective in life, rather than being the typical individual in a dystopian society that accepts life within a single spectrum. Clarisse is another person who also contributed to Montag's transformation. She had the greatest influence on Montag's transformation. When Clarisse first met Montag, even though she was young, she was filled with great energy and was always curious about the people she interacted with. As Clarisse mentioned: “Are you happy? (Bradley, 10 years old). As Clarisse stated, she basically asked Montag if he was satisfied with his life. However, as Clarisse asks this question, Montag begins to realize that he is not satisfied with happiness, especially with his job as a firefighter, with his wife, with the way they separated, and with society in.