Intelligence or Advanced Ignorance

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The society in Fahrenheit, as well as the society we live in today, could certainly be referred to as technologically enhanced. This could result in either good or bad things, sometimes both. Some societies thrive with the use of technology; they use it to help them find and learn more about the world around them. Ray Bradbury writes about a society that is so technologically advanced, but all the technology and media around them led to their downfall before they ever realized it. Technology was the very source of what they lived for; without it they felt empty and vulnerable. While technology and media helped and improved people's lives greatly, the author shows that when they let it take over their lives completely, technology can end up ruining a society.

Due to the ban of books the people in Fahrenheit had become very ignorant. As the technology grew, so did the ignorance. Technology was their base for entertainment, knowledge, and interaction, for they saw no use in real human interaction because they got all the interaction they needed from the 'families' in the parlor walls. An example of this is when Mildred completely ignores Montag when he asks her, “Does your 'family' love you, love you very much, love you with all their heart and soul, Millie?” (77). Her reply was simply, “Why'd you ask a silly question like that?” (77). Millie is so absorbed in the 'family' as well as the parlor walls that she doesn't see how much pain she is putting him through by not remembering or caring where they first met, as well as not even really acknowledging him after he told her how much he loved and cared about her. Another example is when Mildred fails to remember the fact that her fifteen year old neighbor was killed by...

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...can lose its humanity. Montag makes this statement showing how America had turned into a lazy, but still powerful country, “We've started and won two atomic wars since 1990! Is it because we're having so much fun at home we've forgotten the world?... Is it true the world works hard and we play? Is that why we're hated so much?”(73-74). That statement makes you think that America wanted to just get the war out of the way in a less humane way, by using atomic weapons, so they could get back to their parlor walls.

In Fahrenheit, technology influenced and shaped the lives of all. Media and technology played a very large part in their lives, that may have been a good thing had they not allowed it to rule their lives. The people chose not to think for themselves. Obsessed by the media and dependent upon technology, they allowed both to take over their lives.

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