Literary Journal #5 : Fahrenheit 451

Humans have writing and reading books for thousands of years. Even though books are recognized as excellent sources of information, knowledge and even pleasure, some of them were, and still are banned in some societies. From censorship, political powers have shown their struggle of separating their people from the truth. Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 depicts a society where reading and possessing books are strictly prohibited. Its fire fighters, instead of extinguishing fires, set books that they find on fire. Making the long story short, Guy Montag, the main character and who is a fire fighter, rejects to follow the society's law and start reading books after he meets a girl named Clarisse. After found out about his "ill acts," Montag runs away from home and the society. Soon after his runaway, a war breaks out and the society is completely destroyed by bombing. And the novel ends with a hint that Montag and his followers who he met while running away will build a new society.

I realize that most of us living in this century are used to taking things for granted. I have no intention of making this post a political journal but this book shows the possible ways our society can be ruined when people do not pay enough attention to the world. Freedom is not a mere romantic word that teenagers look forward to having from their parents or school. While freedom is a right, it is also a responsibility. When people fail to look directly to the truth and make decisions based on composite facts and their logic, freedom is in danger. Look around the world. Notice how many people in different countries are still not able to practice their unalienable rights!

From "Blade Runner"(1982)

The novel also shows how fallible humans can be. Under corrupted powers, it is a matter of time to brainwash the people. Only absorbing the false and fabricated information like dry sponges, the spirit and minds of people become completely subordinate to the government. All the walls are covered with TV screens and people always keep earphones called "Seashells" in their ears separating themselves from the reality.

I heard North Koreans call TV "idiot box." (It is not a slang) But I realize it really make sense to call it that way. Visual impressions are much powerful and lasting than just reading texts. And you really become an "idiot" if you decline to think but just accepts everything that is shown to you on TV.

The book warns us not to be "idiots" of modern society who lost their spirit and logic to the corrupted power.