The Power of Language in Fahrenheit 451 - 1167 Words

The Power of Language in Fahrenheit 451 In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 there are those who defend the cause of language; those who attempt to destroy the value of words and those who are victims of the abuse of power over language and thought, wielded by the government. The fireman, Montag, attempts to use language as weapon against the entrenched ignorance of his dystopian world. Conversely, the Fire Chief Beatty, uses the power of language as a weapon against those who would free humanity from the tyranny of ignorance. In the scene where Montag reads poetry to ‘the ladies’, their subconscious response to the poem ‘Dover Beach’ reveals the capacity of imagery to transform a listener. Mildred Montag and her â€Å"bunch† of ladies are†¦show more content†¦Beatty is a complex, contradictory character that (hypocritically) uses his vast knowledge of literature, history and philosophy against all those who attempt to preserve the value of knowledge. After the â€Å"firemenà ¢â‚¬ - whose job is to set fire to books- burn down Mrs Blake’s house full of books, with her inside, Montag questions Beatty about her final words. â€Å"Play the man Master Ridley; we shall this day light a candle†¦as I trust shall never be put out† said Mrs Blake shortly before striking the match herself, denying the firemen the personal satisfaction of burning her books. Beatty responds to Montag immediately saying â€Å"a man named Latimer said that to a man named Nicholas Ridley, as they were being burnt alive at Oxford, for heresy, on October 16, 1555.† Latimer and Ridley can be described as martyrs to the cause of free thinking. This intensifies the irony that Beatty, an agent against radical thinking, should be so well acquainted with this story. Beatty thus demonstrates an encyclopaedic knowledge of the past while simultaneously condemning those who read and preserve history. Beatty uses his knowledge to attack Montag after the fireman has made the decision to join the radicals and to oppose the burning of books. Montag returns to the fire station in order to surrender a book, creating the illusion of conforming to Beatty’s expectations. Before Montag has an opportunity to speak Beatty begins to confound him with contradictory statements fromShow MoreRelated1984 And Fahrenheit 4511505 Words   |  7 PagesOrwell, and Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the concepts of totalitarianism and censorship are addressed in various ways. Both texts are of dystopian fiction, set in post-nuclear war nations, although they are somewhat of a different nature. The concepts of totalitarianism and censorship are explored throughout the texts by addressing the issue of ‘knowledge is power’, the use and abuse of technology and the desensitising of society. Although these are mentioned in both 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, they areRead MoreAuthority Individua l1437 Words   |  6 PagesIn Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, authority is viewed as ruthless and the individual is portrayed as innocent. This is also emphasised in two related texts, Whose Life Is It Anyway? By Brian Clark, and Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont. The themes of ruthlessness and innocence are exemplified throughout all three texts, through the concept of the authority and the individual. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, authority is depicted as ruthless. This is shown throughout theRead MoreImportance Of Books In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury925 Words   |  4 PagesBooks’ are a pillar of human civilization, they have cultivated our minds and expression. In most of human history, the powerful have tried to overwhelm the weak, and they have done this through the suppression information and knowledge. 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Similarly, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 was scribed during theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Hearth And The Salamander 1258 Words   |  6 Pages These paradoxes question the reality of beings that are apparently living but spiritually dead. Ultimately, Mildred and the rest of her society seem to be not much more than machines, thinking only what they are told to think. The culture of Fahrenheit 451 is a culture of insubstantiality and unreality, and Montag desperately seeks more substantial truths in the books he hoards. ANIMAL AND NATURE IMAGERY Animal and nature imagery pervades the novel. Nature is presented as a force of innocence andRead MoreThe Tool : Fear, Some People Are Ignorant Against Their Will, Others Know Better1254 Words   |  6 PagesLily Kelly-Jervis Mrs. DiBella Language A MYP 5 3 November 2015 The Tool: Fear Some people are ignorant against their will, others know better. In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, society has lost all sense of uniqueness and independence. Most people in the world of Fahrenheit 451 have conformed to their society because of the fear that taunts them. Those who are in charge, enforce the rules through perpetuating ideals using technology, the burning of books, and creating fear.Read MoreFahrenheit 451 Technology Essay1263 Words   |  6 Pageswould be difficult to believe that is wasn t always around. Today, everything is incorporated with technology, from entertainment to communication, from travel to skin care, and newly, from surveillance to control. In his science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451, published just as technology was beginning to make its appearance in people s everyday lives, author Ray Bradbury describes a distant future and the omnipotence of technology in it. Ray Bradbury was an artist, with a backward vision for the