Fahrenheit 451 Paideia Essay

I thoroughly enjoyed the book The Glass Castle. I found the book deeply moving as well as meaningful and gives insight to a lifestyle that is usually overlooked in society. The main take away from this book I found is a family such as the Walls, who are just getting by are usually overlooked. They were not constantly living on the streets and moved around multiple times, thus alluding attention that would have affected their life. During the book, a social worker does show up to their house in Welch at one point.

Symbolism is referred to an object or person who stands for or represents something else. In Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, there are a countless amount of times that the story reflects symbolism. The most popular being, the hearth, and fireplace. These symbolize the comfort and destruction that fire brings. But, in the novel, there are more symbols that are not so easily recognized that are overlooked.

Growing up, a change recognized by all, is wildly forgotten. This is the story of Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. It shows how the need for change, is discovered by experiences and exchanges by/from others. Catherine was a pushy, whiney, and selfish person, who only cared about herself. However, by the end of the novel, she is considerate of others, still pushes for her beliefs in a more polite and educated manner, and embraces the fact experiences have value.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is full of important morals and themes. The book is flooded with symbolism and meaning to both the real world and science fiction world that Bradbury has created. With so many themes in this book it is difficult to choose the ones that contain the most importance, but some of them can be picked out from all the rest, for example, you must have bad things to have good things, you have to earn your happiness and finally, your opinions are influenced by the people around you. These themes show up multiple times in the book and are expressed heavily in the story. We have Yin and Yang, life and death, peace and war all because we must all have bad things to have good things, this theme has presented itself in the book in various ways.

Ray Bradbury uses the motif of contrasts to portray the theme that human beings are complicated and perplexing and that people are able to change in diverse approaches. Bradbury demonstrates the theme of this book utilizing the contrast between nature and technology. In this book, the concept of nature is very pertinent which is meant to symbolize the problems in the technological society when Montag says, “It was like a faint drift of greenish luminescent smoke, the motion of a single huge October leaf blowing across the lawn and away. The Hound, he thought. It’s out there tonight.

“Samantha...why?” “I had to, Mom” (Fittzpatrick 293). This particular conversation happens in the falling action of the story. Although it is very short, it tells the reader that Sam’s mom was not too happy she told Jase and was very shocked. As said before, dialogue helps the reader stay interested and give a bit more information about the character. Not only were detail and voice key factors of this great piece of writing, but how Fitzpatrick is able to change her reader’s views on topics is just as important.

In the book Fahrenheit 451, we are introduced to two characters with two very different, but also very important, characteristics. Mildred, Guy Montag’s wife, is a shining example of how a member of this society should think and act. Clarisse, however, is the polar opposite of Mildred. The society of 451 is that of one without thought, creativity, and books. Mildred lives life content with these rules and regulations.

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses Mildred, Mrs. Blake, and Faber to influence Montag’s character. First of all, Mildred influences Montag by being an example of what is wrong in society. This helps open Montag’s eyes to the truth/reality. Montag asks Mildred, “When did we meet? And where?” Montag and Mildred could not remember where they had met,so Mildred finally decides, “It doesn’t matter” (Bradbury 42-43).

The world of Fahrenheit 451 is one without books. This difference in society has lead to a lack in personal connections and curiosity. Although most children of the society have fallen into this trap as well, Clarisse has not. “I rarely watch the ‘parlor walls’ or go to races or Fun Parks. So I have lots of time for crazy thoughts, I guess.” (Bradbury, P. 9) Clarisse’s family is different than the normal family; they talk to each other, and let Clarisse be herself.

In the Allegory of the Cave and Fahrenheit 451, people become blinded by what they do not know and differences between lifestyles. In the Allegory of the Cave no one knew what the outside world was like and as stated: “He wouldn’t be able to see things up on the surface of the earth, I suppose, until he’d got used to his situation.” People do not understand or try to understand what they do not know or what they do not agree with. In the book, people abolished books because there was a chance someone would disagree with it. Everyone contains only happiness, because they live in a society where they do not know everything, but they do not know what they do not know. In the Allegory of the Cave, people do not know about an outside world.