The exact definition of censor is, an official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds. Simply put, censorship is the act of officially examining books for the purpose of suppressing them if they are not deemed to fit moral, political, or military standards. References to other pieces of literature help to convey censorship in this novel by implanting in the reader’s mind that these books no longer exist in this society, making them wonder what life would be like without literature, accordingly making the entire novel abundantly more personal and realistic. In the futuristic time time period of Fahrenheit 451, it is considered a crime against the public to own a single book or even read a single line from a book. The novel does not provide a precise explanation as to why books are banned in the future, but there are several different situations and factors described by the characters in the book that allows the reader to understand why books became a thing of the past.
Knowledge and ignorance of the people; a recurring theme in Fahrenheit 451, sheds light on the constant battle between those who are well educated and informed and those who thirst for power through knowledge. The main duty of the firemen throughout …show more content…
Theme is a rhetorical device that holds together various other elements to create a text or literary piece. Using theme, the author gives the reader an understanding of what is happening main character’s life, such as certain experiences, interactions, or conflicts with other characters or objects. Theme is an important element of literature that allows the author to communicate with the reader through different scenarios, taking their own thoughts and opinions and expressing them through the protagonist of the literary piece. There are several ways an author can incorporate theme in his or her writing. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury communicates the numerous themes of his novel by encompassing within the text references to several tangible works of literature. In doing this, Bradbury created a strong foundation for the entirety of the novel to sit upon, making it more personal and realistic to the audience. These references to other pieces of literature give the reader something to grasp onto, to help understand and digest the themes that are within this novel. Without using references to other pieces of literature, readers may have found this novel to be lacking or dull, and the themes: censorship, knowledge and ignorance, and in with the old and out with the new, would have been almost undetectable within the text without references to other