Christian Rodriguez 808
MS51 2/16/15
Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury shows many issues going on at the time and represents political and familiar issues and possibly government oppression issues. Throughout this story we find out that the government is keeping secrets from the citizens, not knowing they are being brainwashed by their government which are people who are suppose to be keeping them safe really aren’t helping them at all. This story represents how things can be unfair or places can become unfair due to issues that are ongoing. Sometime in the 24th century there have been two atomic wars since 1990, right after things seem to have been going better more things have been uprising and more issues begin to happen more frequently. As time goes on we find this out by the author giving us more and more clues about this.
One obvious way we find out this book is unfair and not just is the government has people named, “fireman” which work burning books in peoples houses and will stop at no will to be able to burn their books. As we read this book we find out about a part where a woman stored all her books and forced the fireman to burn the books along with her, but in a way she chose to kill herself because she stayed in the fire and didn’t run away. "You're one of the few who put up with me. That's why I think it's so strange you're a fireman, it just doesn't seem right for you, somehow." This quote shows how some people who are fireman also don’t want to be doing what they’re doing and the author reveals this to us by then showing a rebellion Montag begins to lead. Another quote that shows and tells us this is the following; “He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other.”
In addition to this, once Montag begins to lead a rebellion he sets a prime example as an “anti-hero” reason being is because he is also working for the government burning books but he has knowledge on what they are doing, but at this time we realize that an important lesson the author is trying to show is that sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do in order to be able to keep on going or take a step ahead. "Surely you remember the boy in your own school class who was exceptionally ‘bright,’ did most of the reciting and answering while the others sat like so many leaden idols, hating him. And wasn't it this bright boy you selected for beatings and tortures after hours? Of course it was. We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man's mind. Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man? Me? I won't stomach them for a minute.” This quote represents the change people are finally taking in order to take a stand against the government and finally fight back. This shows how Montag has finally made an impression and people are following in his footsteps on the rebellion. Because a rebellion is occurring this sets an example that the story is unfair because the government is obviously doing something wrong or hiding something or else there would be no need for a rebellion.
The issue revolving around this story can convert to our issues or other countries issues such as Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, he sets a prime example for a federal government. Reason being no one really knows what hes doing or what he has been doing over this current time. There are many other countries that follow Russia, such as China and Venezuela. A prime quote that led Montag to his rebellion is "Let me alone," said Mildred. "I didn't do anything." "Let you alone! That's all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?"
In the end, this story shows how things can be unfair and not willing to change unless a citizen
or someone similar to a hero which can become a hero takes a step forward and finally says
something. Montag has set a prime example to modern day issues maybe helping people overcome
similar issues not just worldwide but personal issues. I myself have learned several things one being
not to let things get out of control before everything goes spiralling downwards and we can’t do
anything about it. In order to change something and make it fair we have to fight for it and show the
government what we deserve whether being the government or just something that you need.
