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Fahrenheit 451: A Comparative Analysis

Decent Essays

Despite the many similarities between the dystopias of Fahrenheit 451 and the United States, based on comparisons of technological advancements, government, and intellectuality, the United States is the better society to live in.
It is evident that the United States is one of the most technologically advanced countries of today’s modern world. The article “The World’s Leading Nations for Innovation and Technology,” written by Richard Florida, ranks the U.S. ranks 3rd internationally based on research and development along with innovation. As impressive as it seems, this excess of technology in the country has sucked the upper and middle class citizens into a world of machines. A study conducted by MobileInsurance estimates that the average …show more content…

which the F451 society lacks is the organization of government. F451 does not clearly describe its government, but there are definitely some clear laws that are shown. No one is allowed to possess books, so that they are not knowledgeable of history or literature; is someone is in possession of books that person’s home is burned to ashes. Pedestrians are not allowed on roads, and cars have to move quickly, leaving little time for thought and reflection. If there is a person who goes against these rules, a Mechanical Hound is programmed to seek out said person and kill them. Those who do not question society and keep to their television walls and sports are safe. The F451 condones constant entertainment; even a group of teenagers driving a car while trying to run over a pedestrian is considered normal in their society. On the contrary, the United States government is founded upon two documents: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. The Constitution states what the government can and cannot do, putting the system of checks and balances down in writing. The Declaration of Independence holds more importance for the moran laws of the modern United States society. In its second paragraph it is stated how “All men are created equal with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness… whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends it is the right of the people to alter and …show more content…

In F451, books, specifically poems which express deep emotions, are regarded as “silly words, silly words, silly awful hurting words” (Bradbury 101). Guy Montag’s captain, Beatty, who clearly has superior knowledge over any of the firemen whom he gives orders to, tells Montag: “Read a few lines and off you go over the cliff. Bang, you’re ready to blow up the world, chop off heads, knock down women and children, destroy authority” (Bradbury 106). Having the ability to process and analyze books and knowledge is a tool that the F451 society cannot afford its citizens to have for fear of breaking out into chaos. Ironically, the society is already chaotic, with its constant bombings from wars, speeding cars, and burning down of homes. Knowledge in this scenario is needed in order to fix this. On the other hand, the United States has an abundance of knowledge. Whether it is through books or on the internet, all members of its society can find out about the country’s birth or read a thought-provoking book/article whenever they feel the need. This allows these people to assist in preventing national chaos, and use past ideas to figure out new solutions to present-day issues. By taking that away from the people of F451, they cannot mentally process pieces of literature such as poems because they cannot understand the emotions that spark

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