When reading Fahrenheit 451 one might assume it is simply about burning books. After all, the title itself alludes to the fact that paper, ergo books, burn at that temperature, but that is far too facile an argument. To say that Fahrenheit 451 is only about burning books is the same as saying driving is simply about pressing ones foot on a pedal. Fahrenheit 451, for lack of a better word, is a tenebrous view of a future that has not only accepted censorship but has embraced it. In the book, society, with few exceptions, has willingly given up many of its freedoms, simply so no one has to feel bad. It is a future that is hard to imagine, but one that may be coming true.
It has been said that, “History is written by the victors”, which is an accurate, if not quite fair, statement. It would be reasonable to say that as a society matures, and that truths, once hidden, are discovered, that same history can and will be updated. The question should be, should history be changed simply because the truth hurts someone’s feelings? In his novel, that’s exactly what happens. One small group, upset over something that someone has written, protests until it is modified. Then another group does the same. Eventually the book is just banned altogether. When this happens often enough, all books are …show more content…
People are trying to ban books because they don’t agree with the political viewpoint of the author or because they believe it is anti-family. Some are trying to get books banned because of the language used or the religious viewpoint taken. Again, that is treating the cause and is not the solution. There has not been a book that has been written that would not offend someone, but, as in Fahrenheit 451 one must ask if society is not moving away from one that can discuss their issues and towards one that will follow the path of least resistance and simply get rid of the
It has been said that, “History is written by the victors”, which is an accurate, if not quite fair, statement. It would be reasonable to say that as a society matures, and that truths, once hidden, are discovered, that same history can and will be updated. The question should be, should history be changed simply because the truth hurts someone’s feelings? In his novel, that’s exactly what happens. One small group, upset over something that someone has written, protests until it is modified. Then another group does the same. Eventually the book is just banned altogether. When this happens often enough, all books are …show more content…
People are trying to ban books because they don’t agree with the political viewpoint of the author or because they believe it is anti-family. Some are trying to get books banned because of the language used or the religious viewpoint taken. Again, that is treating the cause and is not the solution. There has not been a book that has been written that would not offend someone, but, as in Fahrenheit 451 one must ask if society is not moving away from one that can discuss their issues and towards one that will follow the path of least resistance and simply get rid of the