Prasanna Dhungel - Mar 08 2023 Introduction
This is a fantasy book written by Ray Bradbury which is mysterious in its own way. It contains a futuristic environment with interacting tvs and radio and the most important of all, firemen. Not just normal firemen, the persons who are supposed to extinguish the firemen actually put things on fire because apparently, books are banned in this futuristic civilization. This book covers up the perspective of a fireman named Guy Montag.
Plot
Guy Montag is a fireman in a seemingly advanced environment whose job is to light books on fire because in Montag’s world books are banned. He wears the number 451 because fahrenheit 451 is the temperature in which paper burns. Here, people spend their time watching large sets of TV’s, that’s all they do.
Montag doesn’t seem happy with his life even when he gets paid for lighting things on fire. During this moment he meets a 17 year old girl named Clarisse McClellen who opens his eyes to this vast world of mysteries which makes him ask questions to himself about this unusual environment. After this he experiences a series of disturbing events as his wife attempts suicide by eating a whole jar of sleeping pills, then he faced a women burnt alive with her books as she refused to come out of the fire. After a few days when he thinks the crisis is over Clarisse dies in a car accident. One day when he calls out sick for work captain Beatty but he suddenly pulls up in front of Montag’s house. Montag had a collection of books in his ventilator grill that he had collected over the years. He was scared that Beatty would find it so talking about why books are banned they head off to work. In the conversation, Beatty mentions that the firemen could keep the book for 24 hours and after that they would have to return it if they don't their house will also be burnt down. That night Montags stays up and reads all the books. To learn even more he contacts an English professor, Faber. He meets Faber in the park and asks him for help. Faber told him to read the books and memorize them. Faber helps Montag in reading and Faber wants to rebel and get prints of those books. Faber also gives him a microphone so they could speak to each other. After that, Montag goes home to see two of his wife’s friends are there. Montag starts to read a book of poetry which angers the ladies so they head off to file a complaint. Montag goes to Beatty and hands him one of the books. Then, Beatty gives Montag a lecture about how books are bad and complex. Suddenly, an alarm sound starts and they all rush off to find that it's at Montag’s own house. Montag sees his wife leaving in a cab. Beatty forces Montag to burn his own house and immediately puts him under arrest but Montag turns the flamethrower on Beatty and burns him. When he tries to run away the mechanical hounds, which Beatty placed behind him, pounce on his legs. However, he destroys the hound with the flamethrower and runs. Montag goes to Faber's house, he was all over the TV and was getting traced by several helicopters. Montag gives Faber some money to print a copy of those books and runs off to the river. Later when he comes up he sees a group of men led by a guy named Granger who are a group of people who have memorized a book also known as the book people. With his new group they move on to rebuild the civilization where books are no longer banned.
Critical Analysis and Interpretation
This is a fantasy book with a futuristic theme with interactive TV’s flying cars and most importantly banned books. Why exactly the government wants the books banned is not disclosed in this book but however, the people believe that books are too distracting and complex and it violates certain rules of the government. Although this book is weird in some parts, it was really interesting to read as I’ve never read books like this one. The story follows the journey of a protagonist who becomes involved in a rebellion against the government's ban on books.The book explores themes of freedom of expression, censorship, and the power of knowledge. It raises important questions about the role of government in controlling what people can read, and the importance of standing up for what you believe in, even in the face of oppression.
Recommendation:
I would especially recommend this book to fantasy lovers who like modern and advanced civilizations.
Prasanna Dhungel
Grade: VII
Author: Ray Bradbury
Genre: Fiction
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