Compare And Contrast Essay On Fahrenheit 451

In dystopian stories they usually have a completely opposite and undesirable world. There are many big similarities and differences of the characteristics of the places in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury where books aren’t aloud, the film 2081 that has an overly controlling government, and in the book When The Tripods Came by John Christopher where technology over rules everything.

In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury they are not aloud to read or have books. In modern American society people are encouraged to have books. In both worlds books actually exist. In Fahrenheit 451 books are forbidden and if they do have books then they will be punished and the firemen will burn the books.” Montag gazed beyond them to the wall with the typed lists of a million forbidden books” (Bradbury 17). “I've tried to imagine," said Montag, "just how it would feel. I mean to have firemen burn our houses and our books."(Bradbury 17). In modern American society books are valued and represent knowledge and learning.” Ideas-written ideas- are special” (Neil Gaiman). Today members of modern society are not just aloud to have books, but are encouraged to have them too.

In the film 2081 based on Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut the government is similar and different in some ways to modern American society.

In 2081 the government's goal is to make everyone equal. They do this by giving citizens handicaps to make them more equal to others. For example making them weaker or not as smart. “Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better- looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else…” (Tupper 1). Modern American societies government doesn’t want to restrict anyone by making them less then what they are and they want to make members of modern society the best that they can be. “It’s purpose is to improve and protect the lives of American citizens, both at home and overseas.”

(Scholastic).

In the book When The Tripods Came by John Christopher the world is being taken over by the technology of the tripods that were destroying everything. Peoples minds were being controlled by these machines called tripods. The citizens of their society don’t know what is going on around them and are clueless because the tripods take over their minds at 14 years old so nobody knows that they are controlling them and taking over. In this dystopian story they use technology to take over and control everything, but not for the good of things. In modern American society they use technology to enhance things. “What good comes of technology? Better learning environments, living conditions, better utilization of time and new jobs.” (Bhimani).
In Fahrenheit 451, 2081, and When The Tripods Came they all have many similarities and differences to modern American society. In the dystopian society of Fahrenheit 451 people aren’t supposed to have books and are viewed as bad things. In the 2081 dystopian society the government got too controlling. In the dystopian society of When The Tripods Came the technology became too powerful and took over everything. In these dystopian stories there were many similarities and differences, but overall these societies are unhappy and different then modern American society.