This is a review of the book by Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451
It is a personal favorite of mine, and I bet it is for some of you guys too, so enjoy my perspective on it.
Twisting something that is extremely important in our everyday lives into something illegal, ill thought, and socially wrong is what Ray Bradbury accomplished in his novel Fahrenheit 451. Ironically the commodity being portrayed as evil is the act of reading books, enjoying stories, and the expansive knowledge they contain. Considered a Science Fiction classic, the story really gives the reader a look at the more pessimistic side of knowledge.
Without waste Bradbury takes us to the core of the plot as the main character Guy Montag is employed as a firefighter whose job is to set fire to all books. Set sometime in the 21st century, the world of Fahrenheit 451 has already endured two atomic wars since 1990 and as the story progresses another one begins. Guy lives in an unspecified modern city, with perpetual televisions, dangerously fast cars, and a unique sense that something is wrong. Setting stands out as a strong element in the story early on, spending a lot of time pointing out the gloom in the city and its materialistic coating. Immediately contrast is built between the city and Montag, he is the color trapped in the bland frame that is the drab city. This contrast is most apparent in the repetition of the society; danger-seeking, drama engulfed programs without substance, and content with the meager amount of knowledge available for them. Although a very absurd concept, the society is strong and the people are happy but Guy's curiosity is sparked by a young girl who lives next door.
Other then Guy himself, Clarisse is the most appealing character due to her very awkward dialogue and how she captivates Guy himself into the grip of curiosity. She speaks with a very young tongue, explaining how she is different from her school and its students because she asks "too many questions" and enjoys tranquil activities. Clarisse tells Montag of "how the world used to be" from what she's learned from her uncle. Guy, as his character suggests many times, becomes a leach to her stories and ideas. She becomes his first outside glimpse at what he has been questioning inside himself so when she suddenly disappears he attempts to reach out to his wife Mildred. The two never show any signs of infatuation or basic like of each other beyond the marriage title. Bradbury creates her to be an antagonist that has no want of the changes Guy speculates to with the re-invention of reading. Along with the abandonment felt by the hollow shell of society that his wife symbolizes is the most prominent in Guy's eyes and easily the most memorable of Bradbury's characters is Captain Beatty.
This brings the story to its main character conflict, the fight between Influence and personal ideals. Beatty is the captain of Guy's fire squadron and suspects his mistake and curiosity to keep and read books meant to be burned. Beatty uses his great, and very contradictory, knowledge of literature and depth of the past against Guy and attempts to sway him back to the "simple and happy life" of their adrenaline society. Beatty overwhelms our shaky protagonist with sympathetic statements and powerful lines from classic novels that he himself preaches as fuel for nothing more then fire. Leaving Guy to make the decision of returning to his job or being caught himself the crime of coveting books, Guy attempts to gain aid from his wife but only finds guidance from a professor named Faber. Growing more and more evident is Guy's shallow confidence, he needs someone of influence leading his actions if they are to articulate, this is something Faber does knowingly and with great haste. Finally with intellectual aid, Guy confronts Beatty in front of his own house, now being raided by his co-workers. In a very sympathetic scene of power Beatty continues to grope Montag's mind till he is climatically cut down by his greatest tool; fire.
A read of fewer than 200 pages, Bradbury cuts it short and doesn't waste a single sentence or the quality of dialogue. Filled with memorable characters and a concept that is ironic, unspoken, yet crisp and eerily familiar. Any fan of Science Fiction, or just wanting a story that makes you think will not waste their time on this book, it will easily become an instant favorite to those who need a quality story in little time. I would have never considered a book suggesting knowledge as a cause for dread to be so uplifting.
Essay by Sithre Lateralus
Read 763 times
Written on 2007-01-24 at 07:03
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It is a personal favorite of mine, and I bet it is for some of you guys too, so enjoy my perspective on it.
Review- Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451Twisting something that is extremely important in our everyday lives into something illegal, ill thought, and socially wrong is what Ray Bradbury accomplished in his novel Fahrenheit 451. Ironically the commodity being portrayed as evil is the act of reading books, enjoying stories, and the expansive knowledge they contain. Considered a Science Fiction classic, the story really gives the reader a look at the more pessimistic side of knowledge.
Without waste Bradbury takes us to the core of the plot as the main character Guy Montag is employed as a firefighter whose job is to set fire to all books. Set sometime in the 21st century, the world of Fahrenheit 451 has already endured two atomic wars since 1990 and as the story progresses another one begins. Guy lives in an unspecified modern city, with perpetual televisions, dangerously fast cars, and a unique sense that something is wrong. Setting stands out as a strong element in the story early on, spending a lot of time pointing out the gloom in the city and its materialistic coating. Immediately contrast is built between the city and Montag, he is the color trapped in the bland frame that is the drab city. This contrast is most apparent in the repetition of the society; danger-seeking, drama engulfed programs without substance, and content with the meager amount of knowledge available for them. Although a very absurd concept, the society is strong and the people are happy but Guy's curiosity is sparked by a young girl who lives next door.
Other then Guy himself, Clarisse is the most appealing character due to her very awkward dialogue and how she captivates Guy himself into the grip of curiosity. She speaks with a very young tongue, explaining how she is different from her school and its students because she asks "too many questions" and enjoys tranquil activities. Clarisse tells Montag of "how the world used to be" from what she's learned from her uncle. Guy, as his character suggests many times, becomes a leach to her stories and ideas. She becomes his first outside glimpse at what he has been questioning inside himself so when she suddenly disappears he attempts to reach out to his wife Mildred. The two never show any signs of infatuation or basic like of each other beyond the marriage title. Bradbury creates her to be an antagonist that has no want of the changes Guy speculates to with the re-invention of reading. Along with the abandonment felt by the hollow shell of society that his wife symbolizes is the most prominent in Guy's eyes and easily the most memorable of Bradbury's characters is Captain Beatty.
This brings the story to its main character conflict, the fight between Influence and personal ideals. Beatty is the captain of Guy's fire squadron and suspects his mistake and curiosity to keep and read books meant to be burned. Beatty uses his great, and very contradictory, knowledge of literature and depth of the past against Guy and attempts to sway him back to the "simple and happy life" of their adrenaline society. Beatty overwhelms our shaky protagonist with sympathetic statements and powerful lines from classic novels that he himself preaches as fuel for nothing more then fire. Leaving Guy to make the decision of returning to his job or being caught himself the crime of coveting books, Guy attempts to gain aid from his wife but only finds guidance from a professor named Faber. Growing more and more evident is Guy's shallow confidence, he needs someone of influence leading his actions if they are to articulate, this is something Faber does knowingly and with great haste. Finally with intellectual aid, Guy confronts Beatty in front of his own house, now being raided by his co-workers. In a very sympathetic scene of power Beatty continues to grope Montag's mind till he is climatically cut down by his greatest tool; fire.
A read of fewer than 200 pages, Bradbury cuts it short and doesn't waste a single sentence or the quality of dialogue. Filled with memorable characters and a concept that is ironic, unspoken, yet crisp and eerily familiar. Any fan of Science Fiction, or just wanting a story that makes you think will not waste their time on this book, it will easily become an instant favorite to those who need a quality story in little time. I would have never considered a book suggesting knowledge as a cause for dread to be so uplifting.
Essay by Sithre Lateralus
Read 763 times
Written on 2007-01-24 at 07:03
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text|
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