Observations on Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920. Ray Bradbury is an American novelist, short-story writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and poet. Bradbury's first book that got published was "Hollerbochens Dilemma". Bradbury's most popular novel, was Fahrenheit 451, it was released in 1953. Ray Bradbury has been awarded the O. Henry Memorial Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award in 1954. Bradbury was an imaginative child, and being the creative child he was he was prone to nightmares. I think the way he thought when he was a child is finally coming out and he is writing about his fantasies. Source: May, Keith M. Aldous Huxley. Paul Elek Books Ltd., 1972 Source: Allen, Walter The Modern Novel. Dutton, 1964 Part B.) This book takes place in the future, in Elm City. The book takes place around a man named, Guy Montage. Guy was married to his wife, Mildred Montage. Guy had an unusual job; it was not to put out fires but to start them. He would start books on fire, because it was against the law to read books. The reason the books were being burnt was because people were afraid of them, they thought they put bad ideas in your head that you don't need, at least that is what Guys boss Captain Beatty believed. Guy never thought he was doing anything wrong till he talked to a seventeen-year-old girl, who said that people weren't always afraid of books. Then the next time he was supposed to burn some books, he took one home with him. Later on his boss Captain Beatty found out, and she said this was his only chance, and he ignored it and she later burns down his house, and then his wife left him because of it. All he had was a book, and with that he fought the society. Discuss (describe) the scene you find the most dramatic. The scene I found to be the most dramatic, would have to be when Guy was on a burning streak, and he got to a house with a women and a lot of books, she would not get out of the house so he could burn the books, so he burnt her with the books, killing her. Share the scene you find the most amusing. If there is not one, discuss this. The one scene I found the most amusing would have to be when Guy and his wife, Mildred were in the house looking at some books when his boss Captain Beatty, made a surprise visit. Once they saw her at the door they scrambled around the house to try to hide the books so she wouldn't see them, while yelling, "be there in a minute Beauty". If you could Change anything about the plot, what would it be and why? If I could change anything about the plot I might change the part about Clarisse McClellan, the girl my age, to live instead of dying like she does in the book. The reason I say that is because, she is the one who opened Guys eyes to see that what he was doing was wrong. Part C. The Setting. Explain the main setting (time and place) of the novel. This book took place in a little city named, Elm City. The novel took place in the future. Does the setting change? How? The setting does change, it changes when he got caught reading books, from then on he had to flee his city, and run from the law. Would the story be effective if it were set in another time/place? Explain. I don't think the book would be as effective in the past or present, because we know the past, and present, and according to this book, it is not true. What truth about society or about human condition does this book reveal? In this novel, Guy Montage has a wife Mildred. Just like in today's society they fight. What is different is that unlike today's society they still stay together, instead of getting divorced. The Montages also thought that was the way a marriage was supposed to be like. Guy Montage is able to see through the government and the official policies of his society. He does by questioning everything around him. This novel represents today how we are influenced by what other people think. Part D.) Characterization. Using quotes as well as actual details and plot events, discuss the following: What is the protagonist's (main characters) physical appearance? Throughout the book the main character, Guy Montages appearance isn't really stated throughout the book. What kind of person is he/she? During the beginning of the novel Guy appears to be a ruthless person, burning houses down. As he stood, "with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head. . ." It is not till he meets the seventeen-year-old girl that he realizes what he is doing is wrong. From then on he changes into a passionate person and changes his old ways. Who offers the most conflict for the protagonist? Describe him/her. What is the conflict? The person that caused Guy the most trouble would have to be his wife, Mildred. She thinks of herself, and has to have it her way, just like in the book when Guys boss burnt their house down and she had to have it her way so she left him. Many writers make the use of stereotypes in their novels to add texture/ dimension/ familiarity to their work. Discuss/ describe a minor character in the novel. What does he/ she bring to the novel (humor, drama, contrast, controversy...)? A minor character would be Mildred; she brings hate to the novel. She also causes change to Guy; she causes him to have hate towards others and to get every thing you want. Another minor character bringing change to the novel would be the seventeen-year-old girl named, Clarisse McClellan. She causes change to Guy buy changing the way he thought and help him open his eyes. Is this stereotype DYNAMIC (one-dimensional but changing) or STATIC (one-dimensional and unchanging)? This stereotype is DYNAMIC. Which character do you empathize with the most? Explain. If I had to pick a character that empathizes the most with me, it would have to Guy Montage. Because throughout his life he believes that what he is doing with the books is right, but he finds out that it isn't, and he has to change everything that he believes, and live a new life from what he is living now. I had a similar change and it changed my life, the way I believed on certain topics. Which character do you dislike the most? Why? The character I dislike the most would have to be Mildred Montage, because she is so selfish and has to get whatever she wants. If you were handed a $250,000,000 budget and the services of Steven Spielberg as director, who would you cast as the main characters in your film version of the book? Why? (Use actors, not friends) I would cast Jim Carrey, and Pamela Anderson. Jim Carrey as Guy Montage, and Pamela Anderson as Mildred Montage. These two would be perfect for this book, Jim bringing laughter, and Pamela bringing the looks, therefore making this film a hit. Part E. Style, Structure, and Meaning. Locate any or one detail or element that functions symbolically in this novel. Wheather it be a color, an object, or an action, describe it and discuss what you believe it stands for. One object that functions symbolic in this novel are mechanical dogs. Today we characterize dogs as mans best friend, but in this novel they are seen as enemies. This describes are society and how it messed up. One thing I learned from this novel is that we are never satisfied with life, but life still goes on. Discuss the significance of the book's title. The significance of the books title is 451 degrees is the temperature at which books burn. My reaction to this novel is that the future wont be as extreme as the book has it, but something in life might replace the book, such as the computer, or maybe an advanced calculator. I don't think that just because one person believes that books are bad, that everyone should think the same, as they do in the book. This book, if I had to rate it, it would be some were around 8 because it had some cool parts, but it also had some dumb parts. Over all I thought the book was good and I would recommend it to one of my friends.
Sometimes the way people act around you isn’t the way they act around other people. A good example of this is Shirley Jackson’s, “The Possibility of Evil”. The main character, Miss Strangeworth, isn’t as nice as she may seem. Miss Strangeworth’s character can be analyzed by considering what she does, what the narrator says about her, and how other characters interact with her.
You take advantage of your life every day. Have you ever wondered why? You never really think about how much independence you have and how some of us treat books like they’re useless. What you don’t realize is that both of those things are the reason that we live in such a free society. If we didn’t have books and independence, we would treat death and many other important things as if it were no big deal. That is the whole point of Ray Bradbury writing this book.
Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury. I am writing about Clarisse McClellan, Guy Montag, and Mildred, wife of Guy. I’ll be writing about the way these three act and why I chose them and not others. Guy and Clarisse met on a dark night, where he started to actually think. The characters Guy and Clarisse show non-conformity, while Mildred shows conformity.
This novel shows the journey of Montag as he begins to wonder and think about his society, then he begins to realize the importance of books. In the Dystopian society of Fahrenheit 451 and in modern day society, today, there are many similarities and differences including the women and the firemen.
The North Korean government is known as authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship. North Korea could be considered a start of a dystopia. Dystopia is a community or society where people are unhappy and usually not treated fairly. This relates how Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 shows the readers how a lost of connections with people and think for themselves can lead to a corrupt and violent society known as a dystopia.
Fahrenheit 451’s Relevance to Today Fahrenheit 451’s relevance to today can be very detailed and prophetic when we take a deep look into our American society. Although we are not living in a communist setting with extreme war waging on, we have gained technologies similar to the ones Bradbury spoke of in Fahrenheit 451 and a stubborn civilization that holds an absence of the little things we should enjoy. Bradbury sees the future of America as a dystopia, yet we still hold problematic issues without the title of disaster, as it is well hidden under our democracy today. Fahrenheit 451 is much like our world today, which includes television, the loss of free speech, and the loss of the education and use of books. Patai explains that Bradbury saw that people would soon be controlled by the television and saw it as the creators chance to “replace lived experience” (Patai 2).
My opinion of this novel is that it was a good book. If I personally had to pick a book to read it would not be my first choice. But overall I had an easy time reading this book and it actually meant something so it wasn’t too bad. At the end I was satisfied for the time read.
Ray Bradbury’s style of writing always included hidden meanings that present a central theme of the dangers of unchecked technology. Many factors in Ray Bradbury’s life had contributed to his style of writing and the themes that he wanted to present to society. Some factors that influenced Bradbury were events such as the Cold War and the writings of other writers such as Edgar Allen Poe. Bradbury’s style of writing was shaped by many factors in his life such as world events, his techniques learned from famous writers, and the progress of society. From life to death Bradbury’s world was always filled with war and government propaganda that attempted to sway the thoughts of citizens about the dangers of foreign threats (Schofelt, Cordon, “Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury: 1920-2012”). Bradbury’s writings were always influenced by the constant reminder of these governments ideology filling his ears. Bradbury’s writing was also influenced by the writings of other writers such as Edgar Allen Poe. His inspiration as a child began with Poe and was forever changed by his style of gothic writing and the morals that Poe always presented to his readers ("Planetary Pariahs: Bradbury and the Influence of Edgar Allan Poe."). Bradbury’s best known works were considered science fiction and always presented a story of the dangers of unchecked technology (Mataconis "Ray Bradbury And The Real Lesson Of Fahrenheit 451."). All these factor into how Bradbury would style his writing and the major themes he presents to his readers.
...influence within the space of the former Soviet Union a determining aspect in the future of Russian statehood. The entities surrounding the Caspian Sea are also the focus of many vital economic prospects which would contribute to Russia’s hegemony over the Southern Tier region. In a textbook example of neo-imperialism Russia has covered all its bases included the impending threat of enemies resulting from Moscow’s political and economic exploitation. Russia has proved that it will use any means possible such as military conquest and political and economic hegemony to its advantage to extend its control over the territory, political systems and economic profits of the nations forming the Caucasus. The Russian government has certainly demonstrated its resurgent imperial ability and resolute determination to ultimately see the reemergence of a powerful Russian empire.
Imagine a gray world. All gray. People walked mindlessly around attached to screens. Imagine this world. Empty, without wonder, and without art. This was the reality the people in Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, lived. In this Novel, the leader of the band of misfits, Granger, recalls happy memories of his Grandfather. When Granger remembers the advice his Grandfather told him the tone and style of his sentences and his Grandfathers character help reinforce Bradbury’s theme that without wonder and creation, life is empty.
her dreams as he treated her like a dog, as he always kept her on a
Guy Montag is a fireman who is greatly influenced in Ray Bradbury's novel, Fahrenheit 451. The job of a fireman in this futuristic society is to burn down houses with books in them. Montag has always enjoyed his job, that is until Clarisse McClellan comes along. Clarisse is seventeen and crazy. At least, this is what her uncle, whom she gets many of her ideas about the world from, describes her as. Clarisse and Montag befriend each other quickly, and Clarisse's impact on Montag is enormous. Clarisse comes into Montag's life, and immediately begins to question his relationship with his wife, his career, and his happiness. Also, Clarisse shows Montag how to appreciate the simple things in life. She teaches him to care about other people and their feelings. By the end of the novel, we can see that Montag is forever changed by Clarisse.
1. Who is the main character? Does this person’s character change during the course of the story? Do you feel sympathetic toward the main character? What sort of person is she or he? Does this character have a foil?
Colton, Timothy J and Michael McFaul. "Putin and Democratization." Herspring, Dale R. Putin's Russia Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, INC., 2001. 13-38.
Throughout the novel many problems occur. Some of the main problems are racial and equality issues. Events in this book show how prejudice and intolerance can ruin numerous friendships and change lives.