Fahrenheit 451 blog 5

Fahrenheit 451 reflects some of the conflicts occurring at the time it was written.  The nineteen fifties were a time of chaos in the United States in its frenzy against Communism.  Many Americans were afraid that Communist ideas were infiltrating the United States government and media, and many demanded that something must be done.  This is where Fahrenheit 451 came into play, because a politician named Senator McCarthy tried to purge American libraries of radical ideas.   “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).  Ray Bradbury showed his fear of the effects of this purge in Fahrenheit 451.  He realized that this could be a very dangerous thing if accomplished on a large scale.  Bradbury also brought to light what too much technology could do to a society.  Technology leads to a life of empty happiness if it is not done to serve others.  As stated on the back cover of the book, “Frightening in its implications… Mr. Bradbury’s account of this insane world, which bears many alarming resemblances to our own, is fascinating.” (Bradbury 166).  In addition to reflecting some events in our history, Ray Bradbury accurately portrayed some things that happen in our society today.  Television is a major part of many Americans lives, and it is scary just how much it can influence ideas.  Just look at celebrities and their massive groups of followers to see this fact.  Technology is a great thing, but it can be very deadly.  Ray Bradbury has written about a worst case scenario that could occur if the power of the world’s governments in not kept in check.  But, there will always be a Montag in the world, someone who will see fit to go against the status quo. 

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.