What Is The Role Of Technology In Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a futuristic science fiction story that tells a tale of an era when books are banned from humanity. Fahrenheit 451 speaks of a man named Guy who is eager to read and learn from books. However, books are banned from Guy’s civilization by the government. This determination to learn leads Guy to a life-changing journey that could potentially end his life. This novel informs its readers of potential technological and societal issues that can take place in the future.

Over the course of history, technology has had many advancements that human beings thought they would never be able to witness in their lifetimes. Today, many people never thought they would live to see the creation of robots. However, forms

of advanced technologies now exist, along with the creations of many diverse robots. This same advancement is also found in the medical field. Throughout the years, many cures to diseases and medicines have been established to benefit human lives. In the book, Fahrenheit 451 many technological advancements have been predicted, such as televisions, lock sensors, and earpiece radios. When the novel was written, small box televisions and manual locks and keys were advancements. Little did the author know, the large flat screen televisions and touch screen sensors in his story would soon be realities. The concept of earpiece radios was also unthinkable in olden times, but today Bluetooth is a very familiar idea that the world easily recognizes. Faber mentions the earpieces in the passage as he states, “If you put it in your ear, Montag, I can sit comfortably home, warming my frightened bones, and hear and analyze the firemen’s world, find its weaknesses, without danger” (Bradbury 87). This text shows that the earpiece radio had just been invented in the story and many of the civilians still do not recognize it. As the years progress, technology along with societal issues have become more developed throughout the world.
Issues in society create diversities that are present in the lives of all humans. Today, racial differences are a huge aspect of diversity. Many people believe that since the world consists of different races, everyone should be treated based on their skin color. On the contrary, many find that everyone ought to be treated as equals. This same issue today is likewise applied to religious beliefs. One person may believe in religious affairs, while another individual may believe there is no God(s) at all. In the novel, Guy and Faber’s civilization does not care about any aspect of knowledge. However, there are a rare few, such as Guy and Faber, who still cherish knowledge greatly. When Faber is explaining what is wrong with society, he says, “Remember, the fireman are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord” (Bradbury 83). These sentences help the reader understand the extent of knowledge present in Guy’s community. Eventually this lack of caring from the public leads to the government burning books, censoring movies/televisions, and controlling what is taught in schools. Despite the lack of interest in knowledge that the people in this civilization possess, they still feel as if they have control over the decisions they make for the future.
Lack of knowledge can lead individuals to making wrong decisions in their lives to come.

People often make wrong decisions today when they decide to gamble their money away, use addictive drugs, and drop out of high school. At the time, these humans often do not realize the drastic consequences these choices will cause them further along in life. When these people do realize what they have done, it is usually too late. In Fahrenheit 451 people take little interest in politics, and when it is time for the election, these individuals believe they have a choice when deciding between the candidates. Little do the civilians know that their decisions have been influenced to choose what the government wants. People in the novel also decide not to raise their own children. When Mrs. Bowles describes how she raises her children to Mrs. Phelps, she states, “I plunk the children in school nine days out of ten. I put up with them when they come home three days a month; it’s not bad at all” (Bradbury 92). This text shows that this future civilization cares about very little unless the government specifies its importance. These undereducated individuals are oblivious to the fact that the government is controlling their

actions.
Despite the potential technological and societal issues that are displayed in science fictions stories, humans today have the ability to control their own futures. In modern times, the technology that is displayed in the story is used for social statuses and the benefit of money. Today, many civilians try to show off their wealth by wearing expensive clothes or driving expensive cars. This is equivalent to the characters in the passage being able to afford the certain types of wall televisions in their houses. Another example, of an event in the story relating to modern times is when people give small children phones to keep them occupied. As Mrs. Bowles did with her children, parents today feel as if they must give their children an electronic device in order to keep them occupied in public or at home. A final example of modern times that relates to the novel is how commercials and famous individuals influence the decisions of common men. In this day in age, most people during the election cast their votes the same as certain celebrity’s votes. Humans have a tendency of following other people’s decisions instead of making their own. The decisions an individual makes in a world that is changing around them causes the results that are to be seen throughout future generations.