In the classic science fiction novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the author illustrates the impact there is on society when a privilege such as books and freedom of thought is taken, while a resource such as technology is abused. The novel focuses on the main character Montag, who in his society, represents the small population who rebel against the norms; the results of a rebellion such as Montag 's is revealed as his character develops. The manipulation of people in Fahrenheit 451 is achieved through media and standards set by their government. Through Montag 's intellectual growth and search of identity, Bradbury emphasizes how the replacement of knowledge with technology prevents people from growing outside of the norms of society.
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In the novel, Bradbury uses Beatty to represent the government, he becomes the obstacle in the way of Montag 's development and growth as he learns to appreciate books. Manipulation is a key part of how those who control the society of Fahrenheit 451 are able to shape the way their people think. Beatty defends his notion of the dangers of books when he compares people to God, claiming technology is more liberating because “You can shut them, say, ‘Hold on a moment.’ You play God to it” (58). As Montag realized, the norms of society in Fahrenheit 451 limit anyone 's capability to contemplate who they are and what their life has become, but Beatty uses this exact reason to say technology can “grow you [into] any shape it wishes! It is an environment as real as the world. It becomes and is the truth (58); this implies that technology has control over you and therefore it shapes you into any way it wants, which is liberating because it removes the ‘bother’ to do it yourself. The concept that ignorance is liberating and knowledge is uncertain, or risky, is in fact proven in the novel when children are “selected for beatings and tortures”, after they reveal their “exceptionally ‘bright’” (58) minds. Although this happens, the overall effect on the society proves to be the opposite of what is intended, an abundance of violence and rare
In the novel, Bradbury uses Beatty to represent the government, he becomes the obstacle in the way of Montag 's development and growth as he learns to appreciate books. Manipulation is a key part of how those who control the society of Fahrenheit 451 are able to shape the way their people think. Beatty defends his notion of the dangers of books when he compares people to God, claiming technology is more liberating because “You can shut them, say, ‘Hold on a moment.’ You play God to it” (58). As Montag realized, the norms of society in Fahrenheit 451 limit anyone 's capability to contemplate who they are and what their life has become, but Beatty uses this exact reason to say technology can “grow you [into] any shape it wishes! It is an environment as real as the world. It becomes and is the truth (58); this implies that technology has control over you and therefore it shapes you into any way it wants, which is liberating because it removes the ‘bother’ to do it yourself. The concept that ignorance is liberating and knowledge is uncertain, or risky, is in fact proven in the novel when children are “selected for beatings and tortures”, after they reveal their “exceptionally ‘bright’” (58) minds. Although this happens, the overall effect on the society proves to be the opposite of what is intended, an abundance of violence and rare