Fahrenheit 451 Ignorance Vs Knowledge Quotes
Abstract
Bradbury explores the idea of ignorance and its possible consequences in his novel, "Fahrenheit 451". To emphasize the theme of ignorance versus knowledge, the writer points out how Bradbury fuses this notion with conformity. These two themes operate together to illustrate how society can be manipulated into becoming passive to the point of stupidity. It explains how Bradbury utilizes symbols of mirrors and fire to prompt Montag's character into becoming something other than a mindless drone. With the imagery of his hands, Bradbury illustrates how Montag develops throughout the course of the novel. The writer concludes how, through symbolism and imagery, Bradbury illustrates how Montag's fight against the system proves to be an enlightening …show more content…
experience that also speaks out against censorship.
From the Paper
"Bradbury utilizes several symbols in the novel to emphasize how society has given in to conformity.
One significant symbol used throughout the novel is the mirror. The mirror becomes a symbolic in that it is something to which people can look and study themselves. Rafeeq McGiveron states that they are metaphorical "for only through the self-examination it makes possible can people recognize their own shortcomings" (McGiveron Mirror). Early in the novel, the mention of a mirror "emphasizes the need for self-examination" (McGiveron Mirror). When Montag thinks that he might wink at himself in the mirror after attending a book burning McGiveron believes that the wink is Montag accepting himself in "not reflective but reflexive" (McGiveron Mirror) way because "his glance is superficial rather than searching" (McGiveron Mirror). This is significant to Montag's development because it illustrates how he is a conformist at the beginning of the novel. He believes, just as all the others do that "it was a pleasure to burn" (Bradbury 3). Montag does not actually see who he really is even when he looks in the mirror. McGiveron's assertion that he is superficial is significant because that is how society is taught they should be. There is no deep thinking and there is no questioning why this should
be."
Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1920, and moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1926 ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). Later, Bradbury moved to Los Angeles and graduated from high school there in 1938; this marked the end of his formal education ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). Before graduating, Ray had began his writing career by "writing his own stories on butcher paper", which showed his enthusiasm towards writing ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). He had his first work published in 1938, an article called "Hollerbochen's Dilemma" in a magazine ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). His first major novel, The Martian Chronicles, was published in 1950, and was followed by Fahrenheit 451 in 1953 ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). The late 40's and early 50's were times known as "The McCarthyism Era" because Senator Joseph McCarthy, "whose unfounded accusations of a Communist-infiltrated" government "led to the suppression of information" (Jones-Miller). He urged many people to censor or ban many so called "pro-Communism" writings; these ideas and others may have sparked Bradbury to write this novel (Jones-Miller). The McCarthyism Era was also a "time when many Americans were maliciously, and often falsely, accused of attempting to subvert the United States government", which prompted Bradbury to write about a future with a lot censorship ("Fahrenheit 451: Ray Bradbury" 101). Also, in the early 30's, Hitler burned books that he considered to be "anti-communism" ("Nazis"). All of these events led to the conception of this novel, but McCarthy probably played the biggest part."
Bradbury explores the idea of ignorance and its possible consequences in his novel, "Fahrenheit 451". To emphasize the theme of ignorance versus knowledge, the writer points out how Bradbury fuses this notion with conformity. These two themes operate together to illustrate how society can be manipulated into becoming passive to the point of stupidity. It explains how Bradbury utilizes symbols of mirrors and fire to prompt Montag's character into becoming something other than a mindless drone. With the imagery of his hands, Bradbury illustrates how Montag develops throughout the course of the novel. The writer concludes how, through symbolism and imagery, Bradbury illustrates how Montag's fight against the system proves to be an enlightening …show more content…
experience that also speaks out against censorship.
From the Paper
"Bradbury utilizes several symbols in the novel to emphasize how society has given in to conformity.
One significant symbol used throughout the novel is the mirror. The mirror becomes a symbolic in that it is something to which people can look and study themselves. Rafeeq McGiveron states that they are metaphorical "for only through the self-examination it makes possible can people recognize their own shortcomings" (McGiveron Mirror). Early in the novel, the mention of a mirror "emphasizes the need for self-examination" (McGiveron Mirror). When Montag thinks that he might wink at himself in the mirror after attending a book burning McGiveron believes that the wink is Montag accepting himself in "not reflective but reflexive" (McGiveron Mirror) way because "his glance is superficial rather than searching" (McGiveron Mirror). This is significant to Montag's development because it illustrates how he is a conformist at the beginning of the novel. He believes, just as all the others do that "it was a pleasure to burn" (Bradbury 3). Montag does not actually see who he really is even when he looks in the mirror. McGiveron's assertion that he is superficial is significant because that is how society is taught they should be. There is no deep thinking and there is no questioning why this should
be."
Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1920, and moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1926 ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). Later, Bradbury moved to Los Angeles and graduated from high school there in 1938; this marked the end of his formal education ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). Before graduating, Ray had began his writing career by "writing his own stories on butcher paper", which showed his enthusiasm towards writing ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). He had his first work published in 1938, an article called "Hollerbochen's Dilemma" in a magazine ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). His first major novel, The Martian Chronicles, was published in 1950, and was followed by Fahrenheit 451 in 1953 ("Ray Bradbury's Biography"). The late 40's and early 50's were times known as "The McCarthyism Era" because Senator Joseph McCarthy, "whose unfounded accusations of a Communist-infiltrated" government "led to the suppression of information" (Jones-Miller). He urged many people to censor or ban many so called "pro-Communism" writings; these ideas and others may have sparked Bradbury to write this novel (Jones-Miller). The McCarthyism Era was also a "time when many Americans were maliciously, and often falsely, accused of attempting to subvert the United States government", which prompted Bradbury to write about a future with a lot censorship ("Fahrenheit 451: Ray Bradbury" 101). Also, in the early 30's, Hitler burned books that he considered to be "anti-communism" ("Nazis"). All of these events led to the conception of this novel, but McCarthy probably played the biggest part."