Fahrenheit 451 blog 1

                Fahrenheit 451 reveals the attitudes and values of its author, Ray Bradbury, through its themes and setting.   At the time when Bradbury wrote this book, anti-Communism was the definition of being an American.  Bradbury was more than likely part of this American thinking, but some of the events during this time alarmed him.  “The trend began with such classics as George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, and was later reflected in such books as Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the classic about a futuristic society in which all books are burned, which was written in the midst of Senator McCarthy’s witch hunts and a movement to purge American libraries of ‘subversive’ works” (Kenneth 434).  Bradbury conveyed this fear of losing literature by writing Fahrenheit 451.  His attitudes about the current culture of America can be seen through Guy Montag’s doubts of the happiness of life.  Ray Bradbury valued literature and this book included his concerns that technology might eventually make literature obsolete.  This is a very scary thought because if the world were to lose literature, it would lose thousands of years of studies and lessons that would be disastrous if repeated in the future.  Ray Bradbury also conveyed his love of nature through this book.  Even though most of the events take place inside a city, many similes and other literary devices are used to make comparisons to nature and living things.  “Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for shore” (Bradbury 82).  This is just one of many quotes that relate Montag’s conflict with nature.  Through this entire book, one can get a glimpse of the author from the eyes of Montag.  Bradbury’s personality is very apparent through his characters.  He writes from the perspective of Montag in past tense.  He also gives insight into what Guy Montag is thinking at times through monologues that are in the present tense. 

Davis, Kenneth C. Don't Know Much about History: Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. Print.

Fahrenheit, 451. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2012. Print.