Optimism in Fahrenheit 451, Invictus, Freedom to Breathe, and The Nobel Acceptance

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There’s optimism in all literature known to man if not optimism then it would be pessimism. They are the basis of any literature work. It’s found in many books and poems today. In the novel Fahrenheit451 by Ray Bradbury evaluates the theme of optimism. The author Ray Bradbury writes about a guy named Montag who is in a society where firemen burn houses instead of putting fires out. Montag seeks out the good in the books which are banned in this dystopian society where knowledge is forbidden to rise from society. He and other literature seekers pave the way for him to learn knowledge and the freedom of thinking which is against the law in this society. Montag falls in love with books so much that he tries to find someone who can teach him about the books and how important they are to life. The world would fall apart without knowledge no one would have a clue on what to do or how to eat since they don’t have that knowledge at hand. Optimism can also be found in the William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus”, Freedom to Breathe” by Alexander Solzheitsynand and in the speech “The Nobel acceptance by Elie Wiesel.

In the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest optimism can be found in the quote “my head is bloody, But unbowed” (2). This show how no matter what negative thing happens in your life, no matter how bad it is you can always make something positive out of it. Optimism can also be seen in the quote “my unconquerable soul” (1). This shows how confident and positive he is about and is showing he puts the negative emotions to ret and just the positive rise and defeats the negative emotions. He only lets the positive in and lets the negative stay outside so nothing can conquer his soul. He thanking the Gods for his "unconquerable soul...

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...in that person’s life for example the 2 poems I quoted the writers were in prison and depressed yet they show mercy and seek out compassion rather than defeat it takes a lot to show compassion after being in prison for speaking your mind. Make someone want to kill somebody for doing that to you. Can be found everywhere that has a story line basis to it the common method of writing is figuring out if it will be optimistic or pessimistic. In the novel “Fahrenheit 451” it has both it shows a lot of pessimism but does show optimism especially at the end where the city is bombed and everyone dies besides Montag and the professor as well as montags new friends.

Works Cited

Bradbury, Ray. “Fahrenheit 451.” New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks 2013.

Freedom to Breathe by alexander Solzhenitsyn, Invictus by William Henley and the Nobel acceptance speech

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