English Handout

Theme: Censorship causes diminished individual thought

Timeline:

1. The people allow the government and firemen to make decisions in regards to books
1. “You can't ever have my books,’ she said. ‘You know the law,’ said Beatty… Come on now!’ She shook her head.” (Bradbury 35)
2. Montag becomes friends with Clarisse and begins to view life in another perspective
1. “‘I’ve tried to imagine,’ said Montag, ‘just how it would feel. I mean, to have firemen burn our houses and our books.’” (Bradbury 31)
3. Montag takes a book, and Beatty offers two options for what to do→ Keep book for up to 24 hours then burn it or get burned by the firemen.
1. “We let firemen keep the books for twenty- four hours.  If he hasn’t burned it by then, we simply come burn it for him.” (Bradbury 59)
4. Montag reconnects with Faber and he is anxious to learn about books
5. Montag made a reckless action the caused one of Mildred’s friends to become upset
1. “Mrs. Phelps was crying… Clara what is wrong? ‘I-I’, sobbed Mrs. Phelps,’don’t know, don’t know, I just don’t know, oh, oh…” (Bradbury 97)
6. Beatty made Montag burn down his house because the fire department found out about Montag’s books
7. Montag fled and joined the book people to wait for revolution

Why This Theme is Important to Understanding of Fahrenheit 451

• The society within Fahrenheit 451 is centered around creating a uniform thought and through the censorship of media (books, radio, etc.) people’s thoughts were controlled.

How This Theme Connects to Modern-Day Society and Our Lives

    → Why it is important for us to study and be aware of this theme?

• Individuality is emphasized in modern-day society, and seeing how extreme censorship would play out, it is all the more important understand that censorship is not the best way to control people.