In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the society portrayed takes place in the future. People put on their seashells that constantly plays music, entertainment, news, and talks, whatever the social channels in. They then go home and spend all night on their parlor walls, both not letting them get a thought in. The society contributed to its own downfall in multiple ways: they have little to no emotion towards human life and no way to expand their learning without books. The society has an inability to think for themselves, and only sees what is intended for them to by the government.
One problem within society was the lack of emotion regarding human life. A vital example of this is once Mildred hears about Clarisse’s death. It slipped her mind to tell Montag about it until four days later once he brings it up to her. Mildred simply says, “The whole family moved out somewhere. But she is gone for good. I think she is dead”. This quote shows how Mildred knew Clarisse died, but did not care very much.
Beatty explains to Montag, “If you don‘t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one, Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient and tax-mad, better it is all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag”. When the purpose of humans is taken away, all their freedoms are taken too. The government took everything offensive and emotional away and gave society the illusion of knowledge and happiness instead. Once one’s personal thoughts are taken out of a society, the ability to be able to live and thrive around other people is no longer there, which was the leading cause of their downfall.
Without books, Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury’s novel society has no way to expand their learning. Everybody is being taught at the same level and the same knowledge. With that, leaving them with no means to improve their ways of life. Faber tells Montag, “The books are to remind us what assess and fools we are”. Books hold our history and lessons on how not repeat it. If we burn all books, we are essentially starting over again. The government not allowing people to read leaves little to no room for the citizens to live outside of the government’s control.
The Fahrenheit 451 society is what is predicted of us to become in a couple of years. With technology, we already have tendencies separating us from one another. To try and equalize everyone within their society, the government’s official idea is to give the people a lack of knowledge instead of any knowledge at all. People had an inability to think for themselves and only saw what was intended for them too. They had little to no emotion towards human life and no way to expand their learning without books
