Rhetorical Criticism - Fahrenheit 451
What I Changed...
Fahrenheit 451 was an amazing book; however, my essay was not as amazing as the book. The first change I made to this essay was to add an attention getter because I was lacking one. Next, I changed several words in my essay such as "through," "so," and "things." These were the only changes that I made to this essay.
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Burn Baby Burn
Imagine a world where books no longer exist. Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, was an eye opener to many people during the 1950’s. The book, written a few years after World War II, showed the fears of many concerning the technological advances of the century. Guy Montag, the main character, was a fireman in a future world where firemen were no longer fighters of fire, but burners instead. Montag and his fellow firemen would burn books at 451 degrees Fahrenheit. The banning of books, however, had evolved by the people. They felt as though books made people unhappy, and that books were only filled with lies and nonsense; therefore, the firemen burned books and the homes of bookkeepers. Montag began collecting books, something all firemen did at least once in their careers. He decided he needed to see for himself the nonsense that was in the books. However, Montag began to realize that books were not bad, but were filled with important facts and eye opening quotes. Montag fought for what he believes in and finds himself lost from the world he once knew. Even though Fahrenheit 451 was a future world, there are many similarities between that world and the modern day. The parallels between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day are television, technological advances, and fighting for one’s beliefs.
The first parallel between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day is television. In the book, Mildred, Montag’s wife, was obsessed with the giant television walls in the parlor of their home. In that world, it was highly popular and most people would be lost bereft of their television walls. Mildred would spend all her time in front of the televisions and would completely lose herself in the programs. In comparison, the people of modern day also have a large infatuation with television. There is at least one television in almost every American home. Additionally, many go home from work or school and watch television the entire night. Americans of the modern day are obsessed with seeing the most recent news and watching their favorite programs, much like Mildred and the other individuals in the book. Furthermore, Mildred and the people of the modern day find it arduous to pull themselves away from their intriguing television programs. It is evident that the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day are similar in the aspect of television.
The second similarity between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day is technological advances. In both worlds, technology is advancing at a fast rate. In Fahrenheit 451, the advances of the televisions and the talking door bells both contributed to the banning of books. Montag, as well as other with views similar to him, fear the technological advances because they lead to the loss of something else, which in this case are books. They fear that with newer and greater technology, objects like books will become obsolete, which is exactly what happened in Fahrenheit 451. Similarly, in today’s modern world, technology advances faster than one can blink. With new phones, computers, and eBooks every other day, old technology has begun to be obsolete. When new phones and computers are produced, the old models are no longer made. Therefore, people concede and buy the new technologies and forget the old. With most books becoming available in the form of eBooks and others being available online, it is possible that the technological advances of our world can lead to a world extremely similar to that of Fahrenheit 451. The books in our society will no longer be ubiquitous, just like the society of Fahrenheit 451. Therefore, the technological advances in both worlds are leading to the termination of other technology.
The final correspondence between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day is fighting for one’s beliefs. In the world of Fahrenheit 451, Montag fights for his beliefs of expostulation when he turns on the other firemen and begins to think only of books. Similarly in the modern world, people fight for their beliefs on a daily basis. For example, John and Mary Beth Tinker as well as Christopher Eckhardt fought for their beliefs about the Vietnam War by wearing special arm bands to promote peace. In both worlds, when one feels strongly about something, he or she fights for his or her beliefs. In Fahrenheit 451, only a few people had the same beliefs as Montag and they came together in order to share their beliefs and fight for what they felt was right because they knew that it was not an insurmountable task. This was also displayed by the three students who wore the arm bands. It is certain that there is a correspondence between the worlds of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day in the aspect of fighting for one’s beliefs.
All in all, there are many parallels between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day. The first parallel, which is television, is a product that is obsessed over in both worlds. Additionally, the second similarity of technological advances is also incredibly important in each setting. The people of both worlds are afraid that new technological advances will make old technology obsolete. Finally, fighting for one’s beliefs is displayed in the two realms. Montag shows the importance of fighting for one’s beliefs as well as many others have shown in the world of the modern day. The similarities are evident for any reader and they display important themes of everyday life. Therefore, both worlds are encumbered by selfishness.
The first parallel between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day is television. In the book, Mildred, Montag’s wife, was obsessed with the giant television walls in the parlor of their home. In that world, it was highly popular and most people would be lost bereft of their television walls. Mildred would spend all her time in front of the televisions and would completely lose herself in the programs. In comparison, the people of modern day also have a large infatuation with television. There is at least one television in almost every American home. Additionally, many go home from work or school and watch television the entire night. Americans of the modern day are obsessed with seeing the most recent news and watching their favorite programs, much like Mildred and the other individuals in the book. Furthermore, Mildred and the people of the modern day find it arduous to pull themselves away from their intriguing television programs. It is evident that the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day are similar in the aspect of television.
The second similarity between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day is technological advances. In both worlds, technology is advancing at a fast rate. In Fahrenheit 451, the advances of the televisions and the talking door bells both contributed to the banning of books. Montag, as well as other with views similar to him, fear the technological advances because they lead to the loss of something else, which in this case are books. They fear that with newer and greater technology, objects like books will become obsolete, which is exactly what happened in Fahrenheit 451. Similarly, in today’s modern world, technology advances faster than one can blink. With new phones, computers, and eBooks every other day, old technology has begun to be obsolete. When new phones and computers are produced, the old models are no longer made. Therefore, people concede and buy the new technologies and forget the old. With most books becoming available in the form of eBooks and others being available online, it is possible that the technological advances of our world can lead to a world extremely similar to that of Fahrenheit 451. The books in our society will no longer be ubiquitous, just like the society of Fahrenheit 451. Therefore, the technological advances in both worlds are leading to the termination of other technology.
The final correspondence between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day is fighting for one’s beliefs. In the world of Fahrenheit 451, Montag fights for his beliefs of expostulation when he turns on the other firemen and begins to think only of books. Similarly in the modern world, people fight for their beliefs on a daily basis. For example, John and Mary Beth Tinker as well as Christopher Eckhardt fought for their beliefs about the Vietnam War by wearing special arm bands to promote peace. In both worlds, when one feels strongly about something, he or she fights for his or her beliefs. In Fahrenheit 451, only a few people had the same beliefs as Montag and they came together in order to share their beliefs and fight for what they felt was right because they knew that it was not an insurmountable task. This was also displayed by the three students who wore the arm bands. It is certain that there is a correspondence between the worlds of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day in the aspect of fighting for one’s beliefs.
All in all, there are many parallels between the world of Fahrenheit 451 and that of the modern day. The first parallel, which is television, is a product that is obsessed over in both worlds. Additionally, the second similarity of technological advances is also incredibly important in each setting. The people of both worlds are afraid that new technological advances will make old technology obsolete. Finally, fighting for one’s beliefs is displayed in the two realms. Montag shows the importance of fighting for one’s beliefs as well as many others have shown in the world of the modern day. The similarities are evident for any reader and they display important themes of everyday life. Therefore, both worlds are encumbered by selfishness.