Violence And Violence In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

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The theme of violence in regards to violence on man by machine is shown throughout Fahrenheit 451 by the usage of the mechanical hounds, cars, and also through the hunt for Montag that had been broadcasted to the world. Rafeeq Mcgiveron, a professor from Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, and Western Michigan University has written numerous essays in regards to Fahrenheit 451 and states, in regards to the portrayal of violence in the text, “violence is endemic on the streets and in broadcast entertainment, and jet bombers circle ominously in the night. Violence and danger thus crowd out original thought.” Here, Mcgiveron is explaining why danger and violence is so abundant in the book, and that is because it is so common …show more content…

The mechanical hounds and cars are not the only two violent forms of machinery that Bradbury shows as he also gives a third example, being television. Television, otherwise known as the parlour, is also generally portrayed as violent in Fahrenheit 451, and it shows the viewer what they want to watch, much like television today. Sometimes, the parlour walls contain some rather gruesome shows such as the time when “Three White Cartoon Clowns chopped of each other’s limbs to the accompaniment of immense incoming tides of laughter” (Bradbury 90). This sentence is clearly showing how the media has complete disregard for the lives of humans, and they seem to be somewhat promoting the use of violence as a means to be happy when they use the laugh track in the background. There are many channels on the television sets that occupy the homes on this world and anyone can find something to please them. Whether what pleases them is watching cartoons, the news, or some sort of reality show, the television sets we watch on a day to day basis are much like those shown in Fahrenheit 451. Unfortunately, on some occasions, the mechanical hounds and parlours work together and film chase scenes, much like the one Montag found himself in after killing of his boss Beatty. This particular scene is similar to a scene that one would find while watching a show similar to COPS, where helicopters and cop cars can be seen chasing down fugitives of the law. This similarity is shown when Montag is supposedly killed and the announcer states “The search is over, Montag is dead; a crime against society has been avenged” (Bradbury 142). The hunt for Montag was used as a way for the viewers to release all of the pent up violence and frustration they may have held throughout the day, without even having to leave their parlour rooms. However,

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