Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury Born 1920 1942 published in Weird Tales, a famous pulp science-fiction magazine Writer for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone 1950 The Martian Chronicles is published establishing Bradbury as a science fiction icon

Fahrenheit 451 Background Published during the McCarthy Era, when free expression of ideas could lead to jail or social black listing The novel reflects Bradbury's concerns about censorship and conformity

Fahrenheit 451 Background, Con’t: Fahrenheit 451 portrays a dystopian future for civilization Draws on many of the same themes as George Orwell’s 1984 Is Bradbury’s most popular and well known work

Overview Guy Montag is a fireman, but not in the sense we know fireman Montag’s job is to burn books and set fires instead of putting them in out In this bleak future people drive fast, watch endless amounts of TV and have radios attached to their ears

Overview In this society people do not read books, go outside for fun or have any thoughts or discussions that require thought Books are thought to be material that alienates and offends. In order to not make anybody feel inferior all books that are found are immediately destroyed Montag realizes that his life is an empty shell devoid of any substance

Overview He becomes dissatisfied with his job and search for direction in some books he steals from one of his own fires With the help of a former English professor named Faber, Montag sets out to change a society that has forgotten how to think for itself and enjoys unquestioning ignorance

Literary Focus Date of Publication Structure Genre Setting (time) Setting (place 1953 Science Fiction Bradbury has structure Fahrenheit 451 into three parts which parallel the stages of Montag's transformation Future; 21st Century Dystopian Future Version of United States

Point of View Protagonist Antagonist Irony Third-Person Limited Omniscient Montag Beatty, Wife and Friends, Society Beatty, Montag’s boss, seemingly hate books, but through admonishments of Montag reveals he is extremely well-read

Literary Focus Themes and Conflicts Knowledge Giving Way to Ignorance Consequences of Passivity The Value of Education The Importance of Discussion Responsibility and Consequences Alienation and Loneliness Change and Transformation

Literary Focus, Con’t: Symbols The Phoenix Montag’s Hands Symbolize the human ability to rise up out of the ashes and learn from past failures Symbolic of his rebellious nature; he often blames his hands for actions society would condemn

Represents the dangers of technology unchecked. Literary Focus, Con’t: Symbolism 451 Degrees and Fire Salamander Mechanical Hound At 451 degrees Fahrenheit, paper will burn. Fire is symbolic of the destruction of both books and the freedom of thought that books represent. Representative of the dystopian society from which Montag escapes, the salamander represents the destructive uses of fire Represents the dangers of technology unchecked.

Programmed to repress his own thoughts and feelings Characters Guy Montag 3rd Generation Fireman Programmed to repress his own thoughts and feelings Wants desperately to break free from society and think for himself Tries to challenge himself to make a change in society

Beatty The captain of Montag’s fire department. Beatty is extremely well-read, but he hates books and people who insist on reading them. Cunning, devious and very perceptive

Mildred Montag Brittle, sickly Watches television non-stop Will not share her thoughts and feelings with her husband Tries to kill herself, but will not admit it

Mildred’s Friends Lead miserable lives Disconnected from other people All married more than once Representative of the ordinary person in this bleak world

Professor Faber Retired English professor Longs for the return of books and even has many words from books memorized Realizes it is the weakness of the educated to not stand up and challenge the ignorant that led to the burning of books