Analysis of Censorship in Fahrenheit 451 Essay Sample

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” - Ray Bradbury. “Fahrenheit 451,” written by Ray Bradbury to show the effects of censorship in a society that seeks to be blissful. The story takes place in a dystopian society filled with technology and happiness. The main character, Guy Montag, referred to as “Montag” is a firefighter who burns books for a living as they live in a society where books are outlawed and ought to be burned. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses Similes  and Allusions to  effectively develop the theme “ We can be confined by our own self-censorship.”

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses a simile to effectively develop the theme “ We can be confined by our own self-censorship. Beatty, the captain of the firemen, explains to Montag why books are banned in society. Due to what man makes out of the book just by reading, as they can become a threat to the people in the society; whom they do not read from the complications of reading.  As he explains to Montag,” ‘A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it… Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man.” (Bradbury, page fifty-six). As books can accommodate so much information to where it can be perceived as a threat in Society. Beatty explains to Montag how a book can be something as dangerous as a gun; ready to be shot at towards the people who do not want to suffer from the attainment of knowledge. Following up with the dangers of what books may bring towards society, such as the word “Intellectual”. Is one of the words that are considered to be forbidden due to censorship that Society inaugurates. As Beatty also explains to Montag that,” ‘ The word Intellectual, of course, became a swear word it deserved to be.’ “(Bradbury, page. fifty-five). Many people in society fear an intellectual person can be able to intervene with the lives they want to pursue. This is why they banned sources of knowledge so that they can be able to live their lives happily. Other literary devices like Simile are also utilized in the story that also conveys the reason behind censorship; such as Allusions.

In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury also uses Allusions to effectively develop the theme “ we can be confined by our own censorship”. For one instance, when the crew came to burn down a woman’s house because she had books in her home. The woman stated a quote from “Tower of Babel” to assure herself that her light will be there. In other words, books, and literature. As Bradbury includes “ ‘Plat the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light a candle by God’s grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out.’ “ (Bradbury, Page. 33) As the lady’s home gets burned down, she quotes a line from “Tower of Babel” as a form of resistance from being able to read. Although she resists, the censorship society implements are the reason why people like the lady are constricted from being able to live her life like the others. Allusions can be also used as a form of expression. Like a poet, Montag reads out a poem to the three women to expose them to something that is much profound than TV parlors. As Bradbury shows,” The Sea of Faith Was once too, at the full, and round earth’s shore…’ I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and suicide and crying and awful feelings.”(Bradbury, Page Ninety-Seven) The result of Montag reading out the poem is Mrs. Phelps that had cried from his expression. This fell towards Mrs. Bowles standing up to explain all the horrible things poems have done. Revealing why society despises books due to what brings to one’s mind and emotion(s).

In a society where books are banned to seek happiness instead of enlightenment. People seek happiness from selfishness by censoring sources that bring “suffering”. The point of gaining knowledge is to read authors’ insights to help yourself to be aware of the truths of the world around you. Instead of confining yourself to be prisoners in a cave, chained; not being able to see what is out in the light. That can be potentially blinding to those who lurk in the shadows for so long.