Mental and Social Destruction in Fahrenheit 451
For decades, technology has been displacing books and literature as the world’s main source of ideas, entertainment, and information. The radio and television have captured the attention of people all over the world since their debut in the early twentieth century. In his novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury explored what would happen if this technological fascination continued unchecked. He made the setting of his novel very similar to the real world, which sharply emphasizes the point he is making. In making the world of Fahrenheit 451 so similar to the real one, Bradbury is commenting on how the rise of technology and the decline of the liberal arts could lead to mental and social destruction in the future. …show more content…
Radios are the size of earbuds and provide constant entertainment. Televisions are the size of walls. However, although these technologies seem amazing, they have very negative effects on the novel’s characters. Instead of spending time together, they occupy their time by watching the wall televisions in their living rooms or listening to the seashell radios in their ears. When they talk to each other, their conversations are short, vague, and shallow. As a result, they know little to nothing about each other. For example, after failing to remember where he first met his wife Mildred, the protagonist, Montag, realizes that he does not know her at all and therefore does not really love her (Bradbury 41). Mildred and Montag rarely have meaningful conversations; whenever Montag tries to start one, Mildred ends it as soon as possible. Her obsession with technology makes her separate and distant from her husband. Mildred’s behavior is replicated in every other citizen of the Fahrenheit 451 world. Their addiction to their technological devices deprives them from having real relationships with one
For decades, technology has been displacing books and literature as the world’s main source of ideas, entertainment, and information. The radio and television have captured the attention of people all over the world since their debut in the early twentieth century. In his novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury explored what would happen if this technological fascination continued unchecked. He made the setting of his novel very similar to the real world, which sharply emphasizes the point he is making. In making the world of Fahrenheit 451 so similar to the real one, Bradbury is commenting on how the rise of technology and the decline of the liberal arts could lead to mental and social destruction in the future. …show more content…
Radios are the size of earbuds and provide constant entertainment. Televisions are the size of walls. However, although these technologies seem amazing, they have very negative effects on the novel’s characters. Instead of spending time together, they occupy their time by watching the wall televisions in their living rooms or listening to the seashell radios in their ears. When they talk to each other, their conversations are short, vague, and shallow. As a result, they know little to nothing about each other. For example, after failing to remember where he first met his wife Mildred, the protagonist, Montag, realizes that he does not know her at all and therefore does not really love her (Bradbury 41). Mildred and Montag rarely have meaningful conversations; whenever Montag tries to start one, Mildred ends it as soon as possible. Her obsession with technology makes her separate and distant from her husband. Mildred’s behavior is replicated in every other citizen of the Fahrenheit 451 world. Their addiction to their technological devices deprives them from having real relationships with one