The author uses a good amount of suspense to keep readers reading. Another reason that people today keep reading it is because the setting is very close to what we might imagine our future to be. A look into a possible future is a very good reason to keep reading a book.
When Montag starts talking to Clarisse, he starts to become a bit of a misfit like her. He starts paying attention to the things she talks to him about (Bradbury 28) and starts to think about the books he burns (Bradbury 33). The fireman side and the side that wants to learn and think can not exist together, and he starts to struggle with it himself (Bradbury 24). There is suspense in wondering which of the two will end up being who Montag is. Eventually the thinking side wins out, and that puts him in conflict with a society that is very dangerous, and has no problem killing those who do not fit in, like the lady who the firemen were about to burn alive before she lit the fire herself (Bradbury 38). Then the suspense is in whether or not Montag will get away.
Another good reason people get hooked to reading the book is that the future Bradbury writes about seems uncomfortably possible, especially today. The way everything has to be done with quickly and how people spend entirely too much time in front of a television is fairly close to daily life in the story, where people just sit in a room made of television screens (Bradbury 20). Do I even have to mention how many people I meet that say they do not like reading, and do it only when they are forced to? Things like that make Bradbury’s future seem more plausible, and make the reader more curious about it. I wonder if that played any part in its popularity when it was written. Did people feel the same way about the future then?
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Fahrenheit 451- Question 6
I think we still read Fahrenheit 451 because its message is so important. It reminds people to think about their lives and not to cut things down to make things faster. If people did not have a reminder about things like that, who knows what would happen. Just a thought here, but is it not kind of funny that the author wrote a book about the future destruction of books?
How incredible is it that the author predicted so well what our society would become. How in God’s name did he know that everything would become about doing things quickly, with as little thought involved as possible? He even knew how popular television would become, all the way back in the forties. People think so little today that I have to wonder what the world would be like without this book, maybe people would be even worse off than they are.
When I read this book, it made me think of a world without books, which is a very frightening thought. Besides pointing out problems, the book made me appreciate the books that I have and have read. Books are the way I learn, and the way I meet great people who wrote down their thoughts. If Ayn Rand had not written down what was in her head, I would not be who I am, and I can not imagine what my mind would be like. Books and the ideas convey change those who read them. Whether it is adding them to a list of thing they believe in, or making a decision about an idea being wrong, books help a person shape their mind.
Fahrenheit 451 makes people slow down and think about things and makes people appreciate books much more. It is really amazing to me how close to the future the author came, except for the prediction of nuclear wars and such (Bradbury 73). No wonder this book is still read when it has such a wonderful message.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
How incredible is it that the author predicted so well what our society would become. How in God’s name did he know that everything would become about doing things quickly, with as little thought involved as possible? He even knew how popular television would become, all the way back in the forties. People think so little today that I have to wonder what the world would be like without this book, maybe people would be even worse off than they are.
When I read this book, it made me think of a world without books, which is a very frightening thought. Besides pointing out problems, the book made me appreciate the books that I have and have read. Books are the way I learn, and the way I meet great people who wrote down their thoughts. If Ayn Rand had not written down what was in her head, I would not be who I am, and I can not imagine what my mind would be like. Books and the ideas convey change those who read them. Whether it is adding them to a list of thing they believe in, or making a decision about an idea being wrong, books help a person shape their mind.
Fahrenheit 451 makes people slow down and think about things and makes people appreciate books much more. It is really amazing to me how close to the future the author came, except for the prediction of nuclear wars and such (Bradbury 73). No wonder this book is still read when it has such a wonderful message.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Fahrenheit 451- Question 5
I was thinking about the social issues the author wrote about in the setting, namely, that there were not any. In the world the author created, people did not think enough to cause problems or create issues with each other. However, they think little enough to create plenty of behavioral issues. For instance, no one values anyone else’s life, and many do not value their own. Besides not valuing them, they often wish to end them.
Clarisse says she is afraid of her classmates because they kill each other, and the rest of them do not seem to mind (Bradbury 30). When people are not thinking about things and noticing things, I do not think they are really alive, if you understand me. Without thought, what makes them different from cows or cats? They do not really live, so it would be difficult to value their lives. One of Millie’s friends says she would not cry if her husband was killed (Bradbury 95). She must not really care about him or value him at all or at least the amount of him that there is. The people that pump out Millie’s stomach and blood do not care that she is a person, they just refer to her attempted suicide as a “problem” (Bradbury 15).
Another behavioral epidemic of the author’s society is suicide and attempts at suicide. Millie attempts suicide at the beginning of the book (Bradbury 13). A husband of one of Millie’s friends jumps off of a roof (Bradbury 94). When people do not think, as I said before, it is like a musician not playing music. They do not do well. Something inside starts dying. Humans were made to think, were built for it. Take that away and something horrible is missing, something people do not want to live without, and they do not even think enough to realize that what they are missing is thought. It is really sad when you think about it.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Clarisse says she is afraid of her classmates because they kill each other, and the rest of them do not seem to mind (Bradbury 30). When people are not thinking about things and noticing things, I do not think they are really alive, if you understand me. Without thought, what makes them different from cows or cats? They do not really live, so it would be difficult to value their lives. One of Millie’s friends says she would not cry if her husband was killed (Bradbury 95). She must not really care about him or value him at all or at least the amount of him that there is. The people that pump out Millie’s stomach and blood do not care that she is a person, they just refer to her attempted suicide as a “problem” (Bradbury 15).
Another behavioral epidemic of the author’s society is suicide and attempts at suicide. Millie attempts suicide at the beginning of the book (Bradbury 13). A husband of one of Millie’s friends jumps off of a roof (Bradbury 94). When people do not think, as I said before, it is like a musician not playing music. They do not do well. Something inside starts dying. Humans were made to think, were built for it. Take that away and something horrible is missing, something people do not want to live without, and they do not even think enough to realize that what they are missing is thought. It is really sad when you think about it.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Fahrenheit 451- Question 4
Montag is the hero in the book. One thing I noticed right away was that he could not stop himself from thinking. Besides that, he is pretty passionate when he believes something, and he gets frustrated easily too.
In the beginning of the book, he complains to himself about his “subconscious idiot that ran babbling at times (Bradbury 11).” What that subconscious was thinking just before that, however, was really quite lovely in my opinion. It if was not for his thoughts, he probably would have ignored Clarisse. Instead, the things she said made him curious, and he asks a whole lot of questions the next time they meet (Bradbury 21). Eventually, his interest in what Clarisse talked about turns into an interest in books (Bradbury 51). Of course, interest presupposes thought. His thoughtful nature is the driving force in the plot, because it puts him in conflict with the thoughtless society.
When Clarisse starts questioning him about being a fireman, after a while he starts laughing (nervously?) and getting defensive (Bradbury 8). He thinks that he very much loves being a fireman, and really does not want to hear anything that may even imply that it is wrong. He also thinks he loves his wife, and objects vehemently when Clarisse teases him about not being (Bradbury 22). When he believes something, he defends it passionately, because he wants to feel passionately about it.
Another thing about Montag does a lot is get frustrated. He really has quite a short fuse. When Clarisse asks him if he is happy, the question frustrates and bothers him (Bradbury 10). When his wife and her friends are watching the television thing, he gets so frustrated with their ignorance that he tries reading them poetry (Bradbury 100). He gets so frustrated that he can not stop himself from doing something stupid like that. He just gets so frustrated all of the time, and he really could not have helped getting found out.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
In the beginning of the book, he complains to himself about his “subconscious idiot that ran babbling at times (Bradbury 11).” What that subconscious was thinking just before that, however, was really quite lovely in my opinion. It if was not for his thoughts, he probably would have ignored Clarisse. Instead, the things she said made him curious, and he asks a whole lot of questions the next time they meet (Bradbury 21). Eventually, his interest in what Clarisse talked about turns into an interest in books (Bradbury 51). Of course, interest presupposes thought. His thoughtful nature is the driving force in the plot, because it puts him in conflict with the thoughtless society.
When Clarisse starts questioning him about being a fireman, after a while he starts laughing (nervously?) and getting defensive (Bradbury 8). He thinks that he very much loves being a fireman, and really does not want to hear anything that may even imply that it is wrong. He also thinks he loves his wife, and objects vehemently when Clarisse teases him about not being (Bradbury 22). When he believes something, he defends it passionately, because he wants to feel passionately about it.
Another thing about Montag does a lot is get frustrated. He really has quite a short fuse. When Clarisse asks him if he is happy, the question frustrates and bothers him (Bradbury 10). When his wife and her friends are watching the television thing, he gets so frustrated with their ignorance that he tries reading them poetry (Bradbury 100). He gets so frustrated that he can not stop himself from doing something stupid like that. He just gets so frustrated all of the time, and he really could not have helped getting found out.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Fahrenheit 451- Question 3
The author understands a good deal about human nature and the trends in society. I could not believe it when I read that it was published in the nineteen fifties. When creating his future of the world, he understood that a lot of the time people do not want to think. He also understood that thinking and the depth that it implies are quite essential to truly happy people.
In his future, people spend all day in front of a television that says absolutely nothing (Bradbury 46). If the complete lack of thoughtful programming today, with shows like Jersey Shore, is anything relatable to what the television of Bradbury’s future, I think I get the picture. People fill their mind with such nothingness as that, and they do not have real time or reason to think. The people of the future block out thoughts with their constant time in front of noise and confusion. When they are confronted with something thought provoking, like the poetry Montag reads to his wife’s friends, they get terribly upset and never come back (Bradbury 101). True, the poem was quite sad, but even sadness is beautiful, not only because the thought required feeling it. Someday, I’m going to write about all of the reasons sadness is beautiful.
The other important thing the author understands is that without thought, people are just unhappy and find no reason for their life (How can they find a reason if they never reason?). Millie tries to commit suicide because of it, and she does not even know that that is the reason why (Bradbury 19). Montag realizes that Beaty wanted to die too (Bradbury 122). A person not thinking is somewhat akin to a musician never paying attention to music. Without music, a musician dies inside, and without thought so do people. The thoughts we have make us who we are, and if we have no thoughts and have no “who”, then what really is the point of living?
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
In his future, people spend all day in front of a television that says absolutely nothing (Bradbury 46). If the complete lack of thoughtful programming today, with shows like Jersey Shore, is anything relatable to what the television of Bradbury’s future, I think I get the picture. People fill their mind with such nothingness as that, and they do not have real time or reason to think. The people of the future block out thoughts with their constant time in front of noise and confusion. When they are confronted with something thought provoking, like the poetry Montag reads to his wife’s friends, they get terribly upset and never come back (Bradbury 101). True, the poem was quite sad, but even sadness is beautiful, not only because the thought required feeling it. Someday, I’m going to write about all of the reasons sadness is beautiful.
The other important thing the author understands is that without thought, people are just unhappy and find no reason for their life (How can they find a reason if they never reason?). Millie tries to commit suicide because of it, and she does not even know that that is the reason why (Bradbury 19). Montag realizes that Beaty wanted to die too (Bradbury 122). A person not thinking is somewhat akin to a musician never paying attention to music. Without music, a musician dies inside, and without thought so do people. The thoughts we have make us who we are, and if we have no thoughts and have no “who”, then what really is the point of living?
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Fahrenheit 451- Question 2
In the conflict, it could be said that a lot is lost. I find that that which was lost was very superficial and meaningless. Furthermore, what Montag gained is impossible to be happy without. The conflict is caused not just by firemen, but also by the future society that both allows and supports the firemen.
Montag is made to burn down his own home in the course of the book (Bradbury 116). That is a hard thing for a person to do, but he gets through it. In the same sentence, he loses his job, and is told he will lose his freedom (Bradbury 117). That is a hard thing to be told. His wife calls the firemen on him and leaves him (Bradbury 114). To top things off, he might have lost his life to the mechanical hound that was chasing him through the night (Bradbury 133). Honestly, he lost a house that could never have been a real home, a job that forced him to destroy, and a woman who did not have enough thought to really have a self. The thoughts of a person make a person who they are. As for his becoming an outlaw, and seemingly losing his freedom, he gains the freedom of his mind by being with those who know the value of thought.
When Montag discovers how wonderful books are, he gains the wonder that belongs to a working mind. When Clarisse shows him all of the wonderful things in nature that he never stopped to see, he starts to enjoy himself, and it makes him happy (Bradbury 23). As he was not happy before, his new found happiness is quite a wonderful thing to gain. I find myself using the word wonderful a lot, because I cannot think of a better word to describe the discovery of something so important.
The conflict is caused by a society of people who do not want to think, and therefore do not want the thoughts books inherently translate. It is really horrible to think about any large group of people so inclined. It conjures up the image of a gang of high schoolers to me. Obviously, I think very largely of my peers. Perhaps I will be able to say that without sarcasm in college.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Montag is made to burn down his own home in the course of the book (Bradbury 116). That is a hard thing for a person to do, but he gets through it. In the same sentence, he loses his job, and is told he will lose his freedom (Bradbury 117). That is a hard thing to be told. His wife calls the firemen on him and leaves him (Bradbury 114). To top things off, he might have lost his life to the mechanical hound that was chasing him through the night (Bradbury 133). Honestly, he lost a house that could never have been a real home, a job that forced him to destroy, and a woman who did not have enough thought to really have a self. The thoughts of a person make a person who they are. As for his becoming an outlaw, and seemingly losing his freedom, he gains the freedom of his mind by being with those who know the value of thought.
When Montag discovers how wonderful books are, he gains the wonder that belongs to a working mind. When Clarisse shows him all of the wonderful things in nature that he never stopped to see, he starts to enjoy himself, and it makes him happy (Bradbury 23). As he was not happy before, his new found happiness is quite a wonderful thing to gain. I find myself using the word wonderful a lot, because I cannot think of a better word to describe the discovery of something so important.
The conflict is caused by a society of people who do not want to think, and therefore do not want the thoughts books inherently translate. It is really horrible to think about any large group of people so inclined. It conjures up the image of a gang of high schoolers to me. Obviously, I think very largely of my peers. Perhaps I will be able to say that without sarcasm in college.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
Fahrenheit 451- Question 1
The book is very clear about what the author values, namely, books. But more than books, what the books mean. Books mean thought and opinions, and those things are extremely valuable. Even if differences in opinion do cause people to be upset at times, in the words of my favorite author, “Man’s first frown is the first touch of God on his forehead. The touch of thought.”
The entire book is about the fight to keep books intact and to help show people the books’ value. Books’ value being the thoughts in them, Montag starts to value thought when he talks to Clarisse. Her question about whether or not he is happy makes him think about the answer, and realize that he is not happy (Bradbury 12). A realization such as this must eventually prompt the question of why. When a person starts asking why, a person starts thinking. Even if they never come up with an answer, the question is still thought about. The author must value thought, or else he would not make his main character’s thoughts so important.
The reason books a burnt and outlawed is that they contain opinions, and an opinion is bound to offend someone, no matter what it is (Bradbury 57). It is apparent that the author values the disagreements, because even though he points out that the books disagree with each other, the author still values them ardently. Differing opinions are very important too. If everyone agreed with each other, there would be no reason to argue, and that would take away another reason to think.
The way books are considered precious at the end of the story by the main character makes it pretty clear that the author values books. Montag almost turns back toward a car trying to hit him because he drops a book (Bradbury 127). Montag is about to risk his life to save a book before he even has time to think about it. If that does not show how much the author values books, I do not know what would.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
The entire book is about the fight to keep books intact and to help show people the books’ value. Books’ value being the thoughts in them, Montag starts to value thought when he talks to Clarisse. Her question about whether or not he is happy makes him think about the answer, and realize that he is not happy (Bradbury 12). A realization such as this must eventually prompt the question of why. When a person starts asking why, a person starts thinking. Even if they never come up with an answer, the question is still thought about. The author must value thought, or else he would not make his main character’s thoughts so important.
The reason books a burnt and outlawed is that they contain opinions, and an opinion is bound to offend someone, no matter what it is (Bradbury 57). It is apparent that the author values the disagreements, because even though he points out that the books disagree with each other, the author still values them ardently. Differing opinions are very important too. If everyone agreed with each other, there would be no reason to argue, and that would take away another reason to think.
The way books are considered precious at the end of the story by the main character makes it pretty clear that the author values books. Montag almost turns back toward a car trying to hit him because he drops a book (Bradbury 127). Montag is about to risk his life to save a book before he even has time to think about it. If that does not show how much the author values books, I do not know what would.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.
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