A Flame-Filled Foreboding

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“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 school district, and it not only illustrates a proper warning to society and possesses themes against censorship, but it is also written by a well-respected and outspoken anti-censorship author, Ray Bradbury.
Ray Bradbury is a prestigious member of the literary community. Due to financial incapability, Bradbury was unable to attend college. However, he spent numerous days of his childhood and adolescence in libraries, presumably reading, studying, and familiarizing himself with various types of literature. Using this knowledge, he wrote many great works over his storied career. He has written over six hundred short stories, thirty books, and an extensive amount of other well-received works of literature, including Fahrenheit 451, which is widely considered his most meaningful and insightful piece of writing. In addition to being a prolific writer, Bradbury was awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer board in 2007 for “his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched...

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...t is without book, Fahrenheit 451 warns humanity of a dystopian future that will occur if continues if society continues its obsession with instant gratification through television and other multimedia. The novel contains an important theme against censorship, and coupled with a prestigious author, Fahrenheit 451 is an instant classic worthy of its place within libraries. Personally, I enjoyed reading the novel very much. I felt as though its message really applied to our society and it made me realize that there is so much more than just TV, movies, and the like. It’s inspired me to take my time and enjoy all that life has to offer, and I think that every person should have the opportunity to read this novel and find their own meanings. The board should not ban Fahrenheit 451; instead I encourage the enforcement of the themes and warnings present within the novel.

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