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Why Is Fahrenheit 451 Still Important Today

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"It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed" (Bradbury 1). The book introduces a world of censorship and technology and the dangers they present. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was written originally as a short story titled, The Firemen and was published by Galaxy Science Fiction in 1950; he later expanded the story into a novel published in 1953. Ray Bradbury wrote the novel Fahrenheit 451 about censorship and conformity and is still important today because it shows what society is like in a world with little freedom which is illustrated by his choice to include a variety of literary techniques to help the reader grasp the novel's true meaning.

Bradbury integrates many symbols into his novel. Fire is the most important symbol in the book. One of the meanings that is revealed is when, "Clarisse reminds Montag of …show more content…

First, the novel expresses the consequences of free will. Kristi Hiner says, "Through Clarisse, the unidentified woman, Millie, and Beatty, you are shown the consequences of what happens when humans aren't allowed to fully express their individuality and choice" (Hiner 1). This shows us how a world without freedom may end up. Next, Bradbury also provides an example of society without books. Hiner goes on to say, "Television, for the majority of individuals in Fahrenheit 451, does not create conflicting sentiments or cause people to think, so why would they welcome challenge?" (Hiner 1). This example helps to paint a picture of the world without books. Finally, the novel illustrates a future without socialization. Paul Brians says, "Socialization has been reduced to group television viewings, and creativity narrowed into brief moments in shows when the audience is prompted to respond to the virtual events they are witnessing, and which absorb them far more than the real world around them" (Brians 1).

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