Preview

Comparisson and Contrast: Fahrenheit 451

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
812 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparisson and Contrast: Fahrenheit 451
Rachael Rowe
Mrs. Daniel-Kopp
English 3U1-04
April 4, 2012
Society Affects Individuals
Society has a powerful influence over individuals’ actions, but that power and influence is not carried over to an individuals’ mindset. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the two characters Faber and Beatty have very similar personalities. Though the way of society has drastically influenced how each responds accordingly to social standards. Faber has followed the path that society has paved for him, but he wants to be the man that can help change society’s view of books. Beatty is fulfilling his duties as fire chief, and is seen as a power head, though he may not be as happy as society depicts him to be. Both characters are well read, have different perspectives of society, and have contrasting ways of teaching Montag. Firstly, Faber is very well read because he is a retired English Professor. His knowledge of books goes deeper than just words on paper; “It’s not books you need, its some of the things that once were in books […] look for it in nature and in yourself.” (Bradbury, 74). Faber is able to understand the power, integrity and meaning behind the words, and is able to realize that without experiencing life you can never understand the “life” that books depict. Secondly, Faber’s perspective of society is that people no longer know what it means to live. They find superficial happiness in mindless entertainment “We are living in a time when flowers are trying to live on flowers instead of growing on good rain and black loan” (74). Faber’s use of figurative language has depicted society as very materialistic. He has begun to see individuals of society as emotionless and self absorbed; which has resulted in a society that does not think for themselves because they have always been told what to do, influencing the actions they make not conscious decisions. Thirdly, the teaching style that Faber has with Montag is very effective because he is encouraging Montag

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The dynamic character, Guy Montag, from the novel Fahrenhe it 451, written by Ray Bradbury, shows by his actions that human society can easily become oppressive and regimented — unless it changes its tendency toward censorship. Montag starts out with the personality of being brainwashed by a corrupt society. The dynamic character is a fireman, and Bradbury chose to start the story with “It was a pleasure to burn” (1). Montag believes that by burning the books, he was purifying society. The society Montag lives in suppresses all intellectual curiosity; this explores the idea that at the start of the novel, Montag is a victim of an oppressive society. Once Montag meets Clarisse, he slowly starts to question the quality of his life and his role…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Imagine a world where everything has changed-- firemen start fires instead of putting them out, books are illegal, and TV dominates life. Imagine a world where family dynamics have changed, and society is about as twisted and delusional as possible. In Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, this world becomes a reality. In this novel, the firemen start fires, not put them out, because they live in a world where television is life and the family dynamics and definition of social have changed quite a bit. In this world, a fireman named Montag changes his perspective on life after he meets a young girl named Clarisse, who teaches him the true value of life. In the wonderful book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury creates a world where family dynamics…

    • 1661 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the classic novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury there are many similarities to today’s world. Technology entertains many just like today. Citizens still have work, and school, but there are some things that are different. Knowledge and books are considered dangerous and creative minds are labeled crazy. I think Ray Bradbury was trying to show us how important knowledge is and if we stop using it the world will change. I think today's society is more appealing because people can be creative and not be prosecuted for it. That is why I am glad I live in today’s society.…

    • 100 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fahrenheit 451 Analysis

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, has many different shifts in attitude and thinking. Montag goes from being a mindless, government-operated drone, to a self-sustaining, enlightened thinker. In the beginning of Fahrenheit 451, we are introduced to Montag, a fireman who makes fires instead of putting them out. He sees burning as a pleasure, and he hates books. However, once he meets Clarisse McClellan, his mind begins to blossom like a flower. Therefore, Montag’s ideological progression truly started when he met Clarisse.…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings” is an empowering quote by the poet Heinrich Heine that directly relates to Fahrenheit 451. When books are burned or prohibited, knowledge and the freedom of thought are destroyed, which shatters the human spirit. In the dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 the government burns books and all literary material to please and control the public.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imagine the hardships that would occur if your life was turned around in the blink of an eye. This happens to Mildred in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Mary in the short story, “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. The similarities between Mary and Mildred are impressive and they are worthy of detailed examination. This paper will focus on how they both had their life turned upside down, how they betray their husbands, and how they are groomed to represent their society. These three similarities stand out and should be looked at more carefully.…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imagine: thirty- five years into the future and everyone is entirely dependent on technology, have no knowledge of the past, and have a complete absence of creativity and individuality. Unfortunately, the society of Fahrenheit 451 suffers from all these characteristics. Everyone is exactly like each other, and they are all isolating themselves by making their best friends their parlors, also known as television rooms. For some reason, most of those people are happy with their lives like that, except for the intellectuals, and a man named Guy Montag. Montag sets out on a personal mission to make his society a better place by attempting to preserve the knowledge from books. Throughout the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses situational irony and foreshadowing to portray the theme of knowledge being an important key to forming a solid, strong society and personal happiness.…

    • 1164 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The government is trying to control and brainwash them and it is working for them. The society of Fahrenheit 451 has forbiden the possession of books. This quote is very significant because Beatty knows that Montag has possession of a book, Montag is nervous to turn the book in because he is afraid of the consequences. This shows that books are illegal and not common in their society. Most people in Montag's society are anti-literate and feel nervous and uncomfortable around books. Many of the people in their society are stupid and don't know the truth about the world, nor do they know the truth about their society. The mindlessness of mass culture theme is shown when Bradbury explains how they will hit reality one day, and that hit will be a huge…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jack Dee once said, “ I have a longing for ritual, something I could cling to, a routine to make me feel well and contented. I hoped that reading Bible commentaries and theological critiques would nudge me closer to some kind of absolute that I could hold up as a torch to light my way.” This quotation means that the yearning for reading a book such as the Bible is a good feeling. Reading the Bible helps one understand and learn more about the past, and have a better perspective in life. This quotation relates to the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury because it explains the importance books are towards society, and the meaning of life. The novel Fahrenheit 451 talks about American society where all types of books aren't allowed in…

    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our society as a whole is ever changing, evolving to meet the needs to today’s world. New fashions, new methods, new ideas, and most recently, new technology. As a high school student growing up in an increasingly tech-driven world, it makes me wonder; will technology ever take over our lives so much that we are insignificant? Having recently read the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a dystopian novel written in 1953 about a technologically superior society, I’m examining the differences and similarities between the two cultures. Without change, we could be headed for a purposeless, personality-less community that could only end in death. However, if we could change the direction of our world to one that is aided by technology but driven by innovation, it would result in a possible ideal version of the world today.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury introduces the future world of people living in censorship by the media and electronics who they consider as “family”. In Beatty’s speech, he talked about how the society tend to eliminate books in order to maintain and protect people’s happiness. Therefore, Beatty’s speech mainly focused on the fact that being ignorant provides the key to happiness. The tone of a literary work is the perspective or attitude that the author adopts with regards to a specific character. Throughout the speech, Ray Bradbury used the literary device tone to persuade Montag to see the importance of rejecting knowledge.…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Fahrenheit 451, toward the end of “The Hearth and the Salamander,” Ray Bradbury includes a monologue of society and the history of firemen said by Captain Beatty. He talks to Montag with irony by defending equalization of society while still remaining educated, and describes the use of books as weapons while freely using them that way himself. He says that the word ‘intellectual’ “became a swear word (and that) it deserved to be.” (Bradbury 55) The students at school were learning to be anti-intellectual meaning no modern academic, artistic, social, religious, and other theories were learned. In their society, there were “turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators…” (Bradbury 55) I agree with Beatty’s view because as the quote shows, the schools cultivated anti-intellectual sentiments and the result of this is shown in the adults of the society also. An example of the result of being taught that in school is shown when Mildred and her friends are talking about politics. They voted in the president election based on physical appearance and superficial qualities, “I laid it on the line for President Noble. I think he’s on of the nicest looking men ever became president.” Today, in Cypress Bay High School most subjects available, if not all, are intellectual to open students minds and prepare for the future. This days competition is rough and the intelligent, superior mind people are the ones who succeed and give the society the chance to advance. In Fahrenheit 451, this type of people rewarded in today’s society were pressured or persecuted in a way until they fall in everyone else way of thinking. Beatty says, “Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal.” (Bradbury 55) Some books violate this idea and Bradbury gives and explains some examples. “Colored people don’t like Little Black Sambo. Burn it. White…

    • 394 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Faber explained to Montag why books are rejected. “So, now do you see why books are hated and feared? They show the pores in the faces of life. The comfortable people any only wax moon faces, poreless, hairless, expression less” (Bradbury 79). Faber points out how people want easy, they are by prepared to live in a life full of challenges. People want everything within reach and do not want to work to be satisfied. It's almost as if they are sitting in a valley. All their needs and wants flow like water down the slopes and instantly satisfy them. But for some, like Montag, they stand on mountaintops, where they must adventure to feel the satisfaction others get so easily. Faber explains the problem of instant gratification and how it can be stopped, one person at a time. Many of the ones afraid of books have not yet been hit with the reality. Faber opens Montag up to another realization. “They are so confident that they will run on forever . . . They don't know that this is all one huge big blazing meteor that makes pretty fire in space, but some day it'll have to hit. They see only the pretty fire, as you saw it” (Bradbury 100). The ‘pretty fire’ is a reference to the good in life. The fake happiness and joy that most of the people are surrounded with can be found in that pretty fire. However, the destructive side of the meteor is the reality. Now, even though books contains the missing information for those people, they can be hard and change people, as it did to Montag. The instant gratification can be changed by people who are willing to wait. If one has a short patience, it's harder to sit and wait and to comprehend anything that is found within countless of…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses character development to support the theme of the importance of knowledge versus ignorance of knowledge. The knowledge books contain is ignored by society because of strict laws that prohibit people from reading books, and requires the burning of books. The law also influences people to ignore the knowledge contained in books with the hope of creating an equal society. Throughout the novel Guy Montag transforms through his interactions with others and self-realization to support the theme of the importance of knowledge versus ignorance of knowledge. He changes from a man who burns books, to one who enjoys and sees the value in them.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    So he contacted an old man he met awhile ago that he suspected of storing books in his house which would be illegal. The old man ended up being a retired English professor named Faber who gave his three things that are missing in their society. The first reason he gave to Montag he stated books “...show the pores in the face of life”, and that statement shows that people don’t like literature because shows the bad qualities of humans (Bradbury 83). The second reason is that people can be convinced of something because they don’t have the “leisure to digest it”, or time to think of something deeply so they believe the first thing that is said is true (Bradbury 85). The last reason was “the right to carry out actions based on what we learn from the interaction of the first two” (Bradbury 85). All of these missing things can make people believe the world is a perfect place and everyone is happy. Life needs imperfection, and if we think we know everything we would believe everything is just…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays