Opnsorship In Modern Society In William Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

A myriad of authors birth various versions of dystopian novels; however, all maintain oppressive societies that relate to other time periods, yet contain significant differences. For example, Fahrenheit 451 limits individual freedom and maintains control through manipulation, which occurs nowadays, but without the oppressor. Bradbury, the author, says, a science fiction writer’s duty is “to offer hope, to name the problem and then offer the solution. And I do all the time” (Editors). He incorporates government control, and censorship through exaggeration to introduce dystopian features that relate to today’s society. Fahrenheit 451 purposely fails to portray today’s society in its purest form; therefore, the material in the novel exaggerates

Firstly, they remove any idea of individuality through the burning of the books, because each book encompasses an individual’s thoughts and perspective. The connection between individuality and books plays out in the novel when Montag realizes, “a man was behind each one of the books” (Bradbury 52). Secondly, the authorities distract the people through entertainment, as well as, use entertainment to brainwash the citizens with their ideology, and because most love entertainment, they miss the manipulation. Mildred, a character resembling most people today, loves the parlor walls and sees no problem with the structure of society. She says, “it’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have the fourth wall installed” (Bradbury 20), then when her friends discuss issues with Montag and he tries to discuss serious topics they look at him with “uncovering irritation” (Bradbury). This shows the correlation between entertainment and inverting one’s views. Lastly, the authorities enforce their beliefs and punish any uncooperative person. For example, Clarisse’s Uncle “drove slowly on a highway once. He drove forty miles an hour, and they jailed him for two days… [Then he was arrested] for being a pedestrian” (Bradbury 9-10). The government punishes those who ignore the rules and have “lots of time for crazy thoughts” (Bradbury 9), because they become aware, which results in the possibility

In Fahrenheit 451, the authority revokes citizens’ right to read books and prohibits thoughts not aligning with their beliefs. Then, the authority manipulates and perverts the truth within the education system. The government pretends to provide the proper education required when in actuality, they sacrifice the most influential and important compartments. Their mentality is “life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work. Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pulling switches, fitting nuts and bolts?”(Bradbury 55). Another problem is the quality of information within the education system. The government pretends to care for the people; therefore, when the government provides information for the people, the people do not question it. For example, Beatty says, “cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts ' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant ' with information. Then they 'll feel they 're thinking, they 'll get a sense of motion without moving" (Bradbury 58). This relates to today’s education system because public schools use common core, which is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. However, the creators manipulate material, so that it agrees