I recently read a classic book called Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian science fiction novel taking place in a future America where books are outlawed. Anyone found in possession of books is hunted down and arrested. Their house and all books inside of it, are burned to the ground by “firemen” who have nothing better to do since houses can’t catch on fire by accident due to new technology.
Bradbury’s does a great job at comparing conformity and individuality of the characters. Most of the population blindly conforms to the government's ban on literature but there are a few who start to ask questions. Guy Montag, our main character, is a fireman who loves his job and conforms to the government blindly until he is confronted by a young girl who asks him many questions as young kids do. One question stuck with Guy and wouldn’t leave his mind. The girl asked, “Have you ever stolen a book instead of burning it?” This one question begins a revolution in Guy’s mind and sends him on a journey to search for himself and who he truly wants to be.
I loved reading this book because I have never felt so invested or able to relate to a character as much as I was able to with Guy and Fahrenheit 451. I would strongly recommend this book to everyone in their teen years and older (which should be most people reading this so go read it!) since it will allow you to join Guy on his journey of self reflection and maybe you will find out something new about yourself. Oh, and also it's a great story.
Fun Fact: Ray Bradbury came up with the title of this book by calling his local fire station and asking the person on the phone what temperature paper burns. He didn’t even check if the information was correct (Although it is).
Have a great day!
-Jameson
I got very excited when I saw the first sentence of your post because a few months ago I also read this book. I like how this post talks about how the character is relatable even in this future dystopian version of the U.S.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I find dystopian fiction fascinating because of its connection to our lives. Authors often have clear things in mind when they write, but sometimes the situations are up to interpretation. An example in this book I wondered about when I read it was Guy's wife, who is suicidal. My interpretation of the situation is the suggestion that free information and learning is a joy in life, which is why many people like me enjoy learning new things all the time. Perhaps the book has to do with the media? Asking questions like this is the joy of reading about lives devoid of joy. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that firemen, who we typically think of as people that put out fires, actually start fires to destroy books. What specifically about Guy made you relate and be invested in him as a character? Also, is the character's name actually Guy? Is Guy a common name in the story? If so, I think it's interesting because guy usually refers to a random person, so naming someone Guy might suggest a lack of individuality.
ReplyDeleteWow, this book sounds so interesting. I really like the idea of Guy being perfectly happy with his job until suddenly one comment makes him question his entire life. It shows the importance of critical thinking and not just blindly following what someone tells you. Also, the fact that the author named his book based on what some person at the local fire told him is a really cool fact.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the U.S. becomes a dystopia in the future shakes me to the core! I believe this story is similar to The Giver, where the main character also begins questioning the government when one person gives him an idea. Fahrenheit 451 has been on my must-read list, especially after reading Bradbury's horrifying short story about an ultra-smart home and scary children, "The Veldt." If you've ever seen The Twilight Zone, you can see why Bradbury wrote an episode for the television show.
ReplyDelete