In Fahrenheit 451, author Ray Bradbury creates a society in which strict regulations cause just this to happen. Thus, through reading the dystopian science-fiction novel Fahrenheit 451, the twenty-first century reader learns of the negative impact excessive censorship has in discouraging individual or intellectual thoughts and powerful emotions. First off, Bradbury emphasizes how censorship ultimately results in the loss of emotion in those whom it restricts. Although censorship in the world of Fahrenheit 451 was not implemented specifically to make the public emotionless, it ended up doing so to a rather large extent. Initially, books and other information was banned to ensure that nobody’s happiness was put at risk. Only works considered offensive were restricted, as Beatty, captain of the firemen, describes, “Colored people don’t like Little Black Sambo. Burn it. White people don’t feel good about Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Burn it” (Bradbury 57). However, this gradually began to escalate until anything that made anyone remotely sad at all was disposed of. For instance, Beatty goes on to mention how “Funerals are unhappy and pagan” (Bradbury 57). In response, the deceased are taken away and reduced to ash in just ten minutes to ensure that the people do “not quibble over individuals with memoriams” (Bradbury 57). However, as Diana S. Wood writes in Bradbury and Atwood: Exile as Rational Decision, “unhappiness” and “unpleasantness” are often “an integral part of the human condition” that allow people to appreciate and reflect on the good and bad in life. Thus, by getting rid of hurtful experiences, a key part of the human emotion is lost concerning empathy and the general ability to have strong feelings. Additionally, all materials containing opposing views on any event or topic were eliminated in the fear that they too would create conflicts and unhappiness. In their society, the officials, as described by Beatty, believe that in order to make sure someone is happy, they should not “give him two sides to a question to worry him;” rather, they should “give him none” and “Let him forget there is such a thing as war” (Bradbury 58). Furthermore, Beatty believes that the role of the firemen is to “stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought” (Bradbury 59). He is under the impression that it is his job to “do away” with books, for they are so “notorious for their slippery and contradictory ideas” that a world without them would “become easier and safer” (Eller). By disposing of the contrary opinions found in books, the people of Fahrenheit 451 were not being exposed to ideas that, despite being harsh and unwanted in the moment, could help to better shape their personality and way of life. That is, by being exposed to different opinions, people learn to become open minded, see many new aspects of life, and develop their own beliefs. However, with all opinionated work being banned, people’s emotions flatline without the ability to use these works to create their own convictions. In his novel, Bradbury uses the presence of certain characters to shed light on the …show more content…
Although these regulations in this world did not start out extreme, over time the society became more and more constricted until the significance of human lives was completely lost. In today’s world, this very concept should be considered as censorship becomes a more relevant topic. Various steps are being done to protect people from potentially harmful information, such as implementing trigger warnings or blatantly discouraging people to explore new ideas that may seem uncomfortable. However, it should be remembered that the most seemingly trivial actions could sooner or later result in the oblivion of human