A Flame-Filled Foreboding Essay - 1224 Words

â€Å"There are worse crimes than book burning. One of them is not reading them.† The author of the novel in question, Ray Bradbury, said this statement regarding censorship and book burning, a main topic in his most famous novel Fahrenheit 451. The novel is set in a futuristic dystopia in which books and other activities that don’t offer instant gratification (such as being a pedestrian) are banned, and in the case of books, burned. The protagonist of the story, Guy Montag, goes about a journey of self-discovery and a realization of the corrupted world around him. The book offers a deep insight into the potential dangers of our society that is obsessed with instantaneous satisfaction. Fahrenheit 451 has no logical reason to be banned from the†¦show more content†¦In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury presents a cautionary message that humanity could be headed down a path of anti-knowledge and instant gratification. The novel is set in a world where people are obsessed w ith television and the immediate stimulation is provides. Rather than read books that have different opinions and viewpoints, corrupted messages that encourage non-independent thinking are shoved down the throats of the citizens through television and radio. In modern times, our society is obsessed with television and consumerism as well, just not to the same degree. It is important that one could read this novel and heed the warning it presents, or at least be aware of the potential dangers of immediate gratification. Bradbury himself criticized society’s obsession with television. He explicitly said the novel is a story about how television drives the interest away from reading. Generally, reading is seen as a commendable activity and is taught extensively in schools. This being true, then doesn’t it make sense to allow this novel, with this powerful message, to be read by students? There is a quote from the novel by the main antagonist, Captain Beatty, which encompa sses a perception of reality that Bradbury fears our society is headed toward. â€Å"We must all be alike. Not everyone is born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image ofShow MoreRelatedThe Crafting of the Setting in a Text Is Crucial as It Provides a Framework for the Intended Meaning of the Composer. Explore the Significance of Setting in Blade Runner.840 Words   |  4 Pageschosen to include lighting in the mid-shot depicting Los Angles. This is the first time we are exposed to the futuristic city. Slow-moving camera panning conveys a sense of drama and foreboding. Our eye is virtually guided towards he violent lighting strikes and fiery explosions, resulting in stunning plumes of flame providing us ideas of a conceivably post apocalyptic world. 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