Fahrenheit 451 forbids the reading or owning books. The society is dominated by entertainment, instant satisfaction, and speeding life. Books are destroyed and the owner arrested immediately if found. Those who refuse to give up their books often burn along with them. A woman is seen burning her books near the beginning of the book.
The firemen arrived and she was condemned to live a life of misery. All that she loved and believed in would be destroyed. She hopes that her sacrifices will help people understand the importance and significance of preserving records of the thoughts, deeds, and words of great individuals. Montag, the member of the crew whose mission it is to set the books on fire, is disturbed that the woman refuses to leave the house. Fahrenheit 451 does not explain why books are now illegal in our society.
The author makes only a couple of allusions about possible causes. Fast cars and loud music combined with massive advertising create a culture that is too stimulated to appreciate literature, self reflection or nature. People who are not interested in technology or entertainment are seen as abnormal and a threat. Bradbury gives a quick description of the gradual loss of interest society had in books. He first explains how they became condensed into titles and then forgotten about. Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 describes a world where entertainment has taken precedence over knowledge. Fahrenheit 451, the system of the fireman, which burns books to prevent education and freedom of speech, is a way that censorship can be shown.
The burning of books is a form of censorship. This is by far the most extreme example of censorship. People are also criticized for talking. Bradbury begins his novel with the line, “It had been a pleasure burning” (). The firemen appeared to be enjoying their role as book-burners. The burning and banning of books has created a dystopian world. This is a society of sadness and unhappiness. Fahrenheit 451, too, is a society of unhappiness and sorrow. Characters are powerless to change their fates. Montag’s obsession to find out why books are so evil was influenced by Millie’s dependence on her TV family.
What was it that made them so bad? Montag was disturbed by Millie’s obsession with TV shows: (cit.). He could see Millie becoming more and more mindless. She was unable to make her own decisions.
