Fahrenheit 451 Essay, Research Paper

In Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, he predicts a dismal future full of technology, which has been over run with censorship and propaganda. When Bradbury presents his predictions for the future, he depicts many devices and ideas that are now a reality, even though the book was written over 40 years ago. In a discrete fashion, he proposes his thoughts on censorship and propaganda. Thereupon, Bradbury emphasizes the power of propaganda in people’s minds, changing their own opinions. Thus concluding, his ability to imagine and predict futuristic technology, and present important topics.

Bradbury, being an obvious technological hypothesist, describes things people are familiar with in this century. Bradbury especially predicts a futuristic technology when he states: “Granger snapped the portable viewer on. The picture was a nightmare, condensed, easily passed from hand to hand in the forest,” or when Millie emphasizes.

“‘It’s really fun. It’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have a fourth wall installed. How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth wall-television put in.’”

These, are not the only things that Bradbury describes futuristically in his novel, when he defines the “seashells” taking the idea of headphones, or the “speed train’s” like the ones you find in France. Later he describes the “portable television,” and other entertainment devices. This is only a small example, of how Bradbury could predict technologically, which is now a reality.

Although, Bradbury was an excellent writer, he also used this novel to discretely explain his views on censorship, and propaganda. Mr. Bradbury also comes out with deep governmental propaganda, especially when he writes.

“Granger nodded. ‘They’re faking. You threw them off at the river. They can’t admit it. They know they can hold their audience only so long. The show’s got to have a snap ending, quick! If they started searching the whole damn river it might take all night. So they’re sniffing for a scapegoat to end things with a bang. Watch. They’ll catch Montag in the next 5 minutes!’

‘But how-’

‘Watch.’

The camera hovering in the belly of a helicopter now swung down at the empty street.

‘See that?’ whispered Granger. ‘It’ll be you; right up at the end of that street is our victim. See how our camera is coming in? Building the scene. Suspense. Long shot. Right now, some poor fellow is out for a walk. A rarity. An odd one. Don’t think the police don’t know the habits of queer ducks like that, men who walk mornings for the hell of it, or for reasons of insomnia. Anyway, the police have had him charted for months, years. Never know when that sort of information might be handy. And today it turns out, it’s very usable indeed. It saves a face. Oh god, look there!’

The men at the fire bent forward.

On the screen, a man turned a corner. The Mechanical Hound rushed forward into the viewer, suddenly. The helicopter lights shot out down a dozen brilliant pillars that built a cage all about the man.

A voice cried, ‘there’s Montag! The search is done.’”

This is obviously one way for Bradbury to describe how the government can turn against citizens and use information in the government’s favor. In an entirely different situation it describes how people have changed due to the government’s restrictions, and people’s social habits, this occurs when Bradbury later states, how technology has completely overrun our society. At last, Bradbury describes the technology of his futuristic world, although people feel well off, they are truly dazed and confused, with a life complete with lies and cover-ups. For example, the fact that firemen burn books, and people hardly care for the well being or death of other humans (all people care for is themselves.)

“‘Mildred.’

She ran past, with her stiff body, her face floured with powder, her mouth gone, without lipstick.

‘Mildred, you didn’t put in the alarm!’

She shoved past the valise in the waiting beetle, climbed in, and sat mumbling, ‘Poor family, poor family, oh everything gone, everything, everything, gone now?’”

So now Montag, a scared, confused, out of work firemen, is now alone, scared, in his moment of most need. Later, Bradbury uncovers, how enough information of one kind, whether true or false, will make people change their opinion, as when Montag says. “‘It’s fine work, Monday Millay, Wednesday, Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn ‘em to ashes, then burn the ashes. That’s our official slogan.’” This obviously demonstrates Montag’s thoughts, or lack of thoughts, of human rights, and the lack of care towards others, not only literature, but also life as a whole.

Therefore, Fahrenheit 451 was written by Ray Bradbury, and describes many futuristic predictions, including an insight on censorship and propaganda. While Bradbury is explaining his predictions, it is easy to see what devices and ideas that are true to today’s lifestyles, especially considering the age of the book. In a possibly intentional way, he describes his feelings on censorship, and propaganda. Finally, he defines his ability to demonstrate the power of censorship in today’s people. Summing up, Bradbury’s talent for writing, and sharing his personal views in a discrete way, which were quite amazing.