Theme Of Censorship In Fahrenheit 451

Life is an extraordinarily complex amalgamation of a slough of ideas, customs, objects, and people. It is how these they all affect each other that must be studied, and reflected upon by the human consciousness. Some examples of such reflection and studies are literature and media; however, with such an influential and powerful hold on the lives of many these areas are commonly targeted by human greed, fear, and perceptions of morality. Actions such as censoring literature, whether it is blocking and filtering via the internet or something as simple as burning the physical works of an author who holds an opposing viewpoint inhibit societal cohesiveness as well as their ability to influence people. The existence of this censorship of media

A far better point can be made on the state of modern society when introducing the complimentary theme of government censorship. This novel follows the life of Guy Montag, who is a fireman; however, in the dystopian future this novel portrays firemen who start fires rather than putting an end to them. The firemen in this novel act as agents of censorship for the governing force within their literary universe. They burn books and in an interesting turn of events sometimes even the opposition (pp. 35-37). This goes to show the brutality and barbarism that can be associated with the more intense and authoritarian regents of censorship. It also reflects real life in the sense that an elderly woman was willing to die for her beliefs. Similarly to when the Buddhists were repressed and used self immolation to prove their own dedication to what they believe. As did this woman regarding her feelings towards a life without literature. This woman fully embodied what every intellectual feels about literature deep inside their hearts. She proved that if the government wanted to censor her literature. That the government would also have to censor her. Montag is disturbed by this rather significantly and as the story progresses, he ultimately realizes that the censorship he is aiding in is wrong and joins

Another novel that contains a nod to government censorship is Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. Near the early sequences of the story the U.S Government refuses to let the civilian populace know of their impending demise via atomic warfare with the U.S.S.R. This level of censorship is interpreted as being catastrophic in the story, as many people had lost their lives due to lacking proper warning. What can people in real life learn about censorship through this literary situation? It can be used as an example of how far not to take censorship within the real world. This case is less of a case where the lines were blurry and the decision fiercely difficult to make. This is more so relatable to Fahrenheit 451 where the author has shown what a wrong decision looks like in regards to censorship. Both books jolt the ideals of the reader by showcasing how badly censorship can become; although, in both cases those in power had believed they were making the morally correct and just decision when choosing to affect