English Book Talk

Classic Response 2

Why is this book a classic?

     Ray Bradbury started a wildfire of controversy with his classic novel Fahrenheit 451. The premise of Fahrenheit 451 is that all books and reading and free thinking are banned. In this novel fire fighters start fires to burn books instead of put them out. This book is a classic because it started a conversation in America about banning books and if it was right to stop the spread of ideas. Americans were forced to take a step back and think about if what they were doing was right. Fahrenheit  451 points to the irony of talking about the controversial banning of books in a controversial banned book.

What is in this book that is new?

     Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel from the 1950's. It is similar to other dystopian novels before it such as 1984 in that they criticize the government. 1984 points at the government taking  too much control and what the possible outcome could be. The new concept in Fahrenheit 451 was that, although the government pushed the people in the wrong direction, it was they who ruined society themselves.  In Fahrenheit 451, the people no longer want to read. The people are scared of new ideas. They would rather drive fast cars, watch too much television, and listen to static noise than think about what was really happening in the world. Ray Bradbury shifts the blame from "Big Brother" to the people themselves.

How did the world/America respond?

     As with most dystopian classics, Americans were shocked as this magnifying glass was placed down over their culture. They were forced to look at the flaws that they and their government had created. Of course, this also made them fear for the future. Fahrenheit 451 had no problem being a big seller, even in its time. However, it is even more revered now. American's now understand how bad censorship and banning books and ideas can be.

How does the novel capture the time period?

     In the 1950's books were being banned left and right and cultural laziness was on the rise. Americans no longer wanted to think about hard times.  There was an effort to censor classics, comic books, and college criteria. An conflicting ideas to the general mindset of America were not good ideas. Fahrenheit 451 couldn't capture this time period more perfectly. It shows what could happen if Americans no longer wanted to think about the world. It shows what could happen if they no longer wanted to read.

What is the author implicitly trying to say?

     Ray Bradbury was simply trying to shine a spotlight on the ever growing concern of censorship. He pointed out how the government started censorship, but Americas were quick to censor themselves. Fahrenheit 451 shows how lack of care and empathy is almost as horrible as vicious crimes. The way Bradbury's characters have no moral sense of right and wrong is down right disturbing.