Dystopias Restrict Thought: Burning Books in Fahrenheit
In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradubry, published in 1953, the theme of independent thought being restricteda characteristic of dystopian societyis explored. In his introduction to the novel, Neil Gaiman discusses the use of dystopian fiction as a way to critique society. As Gaiman points out, This is a book of warning (xi). The novel written by Bradbury is set in a future society where books are outlawed and firemen are responsible for burning any that are found. The protagonist, Guy Montag, begins to question the government's control after meeting a young woman who opens his eyes to the power of literature. As he starts to read forbidden books, he realizes the truth about his society and the role that he has been playing in its oppression. Gaiman argues that dystopian fiction allows authors to explore the potential consequences of current trends in a way that can be both entertaining and thought-provoking. In Bradburys novel, the government's control of information leads to a loss of freedom and individuality. The fear of the government is that independent thought can lead to truth and beauty, which can threaten the legitimacy of an authoritarian/totalitarian regime based on lies and ugliness. One feature of a dystopian novel that Bradbury explores is the restriction of independent thought.
In the novel, Bradbury explores the idea of restrictions placed on independent thought in different ways. One such restriction is the lack of books. In a society where books are outlawed, people are not able to think for themselves or to gain new perspectives. Without books, people are unable to learn and grow as individuals. Additionally, the government controls what information the public has access to. The media is censored and only includes content that the government approves. This restricts peoples ability to...
…of communication that allows for deep and critical thought. In contrast, television and other forms of visual media are more immediate and engaging, but they also promote a shallow form of thinking that is more concerned with entertainment than with information. As a result, Postman fears that the decline of reading will lead to the rise of what he calls typographic minds - minds that are capable of complex thought, but which are increasingly rare in our visually-oriented society. In a world where we are bombarded with information from all sides, it is easy to become overwhelmed and to stop thinking for ourselves. However, as Bradbury reminds us, it is important to question what we are being told and to think for ourselves. Otherwise, we risk losing our ability to make informed decisions and our freedom as individuals. And rather than breaking out of the typographic mindset we end up saying, like Montag, when he…
Works Cited
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. Simon and Schuster, 60th Anniversary Edition, 2013. Gaiman, Neil. Introduction. Fahrenheit 451, by Rad Bradbury. Simon and Schuster, 60th
Anniversary Edition, 2013, pp. xi-xvi.
“Utopias and Dystopias: Definitions and Characteristics from ReadWriteThink.org.”
Handout, McCarthy, English 1102, GGC, 13 May 2022, https://ggc.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/content/2575045/viewContent/40158044/View?ou=2575 045. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022
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