Analysis Of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

Through public executions, prison camps, and famine, citizens of North Korea, under the Kim family regime, have suffered in horrific ways. However, in 1994, after the death of Kim II-sung, the state’s leader since its establishment in 1948, there was no uprising or rebellion (Kim 2017). The misguided citizens had lived their whole lives believing that their government was perfect, leaving no inclination to revolt after the death of their ruler- only grief. The totalitarian government of North Korea today, under the ruling of the supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, closely resembles the government in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Published in 1953, the novel portrays a government that controls and manipulates its population through the banning of
In North Korea’s current education system, political thought is more important that all other subjects. Throughout these subjects, the Kim family is portrayed as revolutionaries that all citizens should look up to, and North Korean history lessons are distorted to depict the country as an incredible nation (Kim 2017). World history is also misinterpreted to glorify North Korea. Since students are taught this information from a young age, they idolize their leaders and are given no reason to doubt the reign of the Kim family or the single-party dictatorship of North Korea. As a result, peace is maintained in the country and citizens are retained from overthrowing the government. Similarly, this type of indoctrination education system is illustrated in Fahrenheit 451. In this world, students can’t be inquisitive, books are banned, and subsequently, they mindlessly spend hours learning about TV and film. In essence, intellectualism is strictly discouraged, as Clarisse proclaims, “we never ask questions, or at least most don’t; they just run the answers at you, bing, bing, bing, and us sitting there for four more hours of film teacher” (Bradbury 29). The purpose of instigating such an education system in the novel is to prohibit students from reading, analyzing, and thinking from a young age. Consequently, the population lacks the ability to think deeply and reflect on themselves and other aspects of their lives, and those who do so are frowned upon. For instance, in reference to Clarisse, Beatty says, “She didn’t want to know how a thing was done, but why. That can be embarrassing” (Bradbury 60). Citizens are taught to not be curious and mindful. They do not question their government, and are brainwashed to believe that the state is protecting them. They have no inclination to think