Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury :: Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 4511 In the futuristic novel Fahrenheit 451, the author, Ray Bradbury, expresses several bothers that influence the story. Many of these problems have to do with the behavior of the the great unwashed in the twenty- fourth century nightclub. One major problem is that firemen have been given the job of burning books in order to stop the spreading of ideas, and to start out all of society to reform and therefore be happy. Many people do not agree with this and they try hard to keep books alive, even though they may be killed for it. Guy Montag, who in the beginning of the story is a proud fireman, later doubts his job and joins those who preserve books. One person who teaches him about books is an venerable man named Faber who is a retired English professor. During a conversation between Montag and Faber, Montag states, Thats the good part of dying when youve nothing to lose, you run any risk you compulsion(pg.85). What he means by this is that he is wil ling to risk his life to help save books for others to read and enjoy. However, Montags wife, Mildred, does not care for books as ofttimes as Montag because she knows books are illegal and she fears for her life. Mildred tells Montag how afraid she is by saying, They might come and burn the house and the family. Why should I read? What for?(pg.73) Montag is upset when he hears this because he sees that there is a problem with burning books. Indeed there is a problem because books allow people to express themselves, learn, dream, and have fun. In a society such as the one found in Fahrenheit 451, people are not allowed to experience any of these things and they are less individual. Another problem found in Bradburys future is that some schools and businesses have been shut down simply because they encourage and promote reading and books. In the novel, books are make to be thought of as evil and are no longer produced. Book companies along with some schools and publishing agencies have been closed due to the chuck out of books. On page 75 Bradbury tells of the closing of schools by writing, The old man admitted to being a retired English Professor who had been thrown out upon the world xl years ago when the last liberal arts college shut for lack of students and patronage.