Social Change In The Giver And Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Brilliant Essays
Register to read the introduction… Since it is so important that the society in Fahrenheit 451 keeps people uneducated, it is against the law for a citizen to own or read any type of literature. People are also disciplined by not being allowed to have a front porch because it is believed that they would sit around thinking too much and form ideas in their heads. Montag’s society is also similar to Jonas’ in the fact that surveillance is strongly enforced. There is a robot named the Mechanical Hound that works for the firemen to track down anyone who secretly owns a book or simply looks suspicious. Since the Hound is always alert and searching, it is impossible for anyone to get away with a crime. Another form of discipline Bradbury conveys throughout his novel is commercial advertising and political propaganda. The mandatory wall-sized television located in every household serves as an addiction to the point where the characters on the shows are considered ‘family’. The power structures of Montag’s society believe that the televisions will place so much useless information into their minds that they will feel ‘full’, with no thoughts of needing a change in their lives. Confession in Fahrenheit 451 facilitates the administration of societal control. People would go as far as betraying their friends so they would not break any laws. For example, Montag’s wife, Millie, sacrifices her own house by confessing to the firemen that her husband is secretly hiding books in their home. The power structures in both novels, The Giver and Fahrenheit 451, are able to maintain their control of the society through social …show more content…
In The Giver, it is very apparent that everyone breaks the rule about not learning to ride a bicycle until the age of nine. Also resisting the power structures, Jonas shows how important his individuality and independence is to him when “… for the first time, [he] did not take his pill. Something within him, something that had grown there through the memories, told him to throw the pill away” (Lowry 129). In addition, both of Jonas’ parents demonstrate resistance to the patriarchal values that circulate their community. Jonas’ mother, who has the position of judge, expresses her frustration at having to punish a repeat offender. She chafes against the strict rules that dictate release for anyone who commits a third offense. Jonas’ father disobeys the rules when he brings Gabriel home. He felt sadness toward the baby, so even though according to society the baby should have been released because he is underweight and fussy, his father took him home for further nourishment. Also, the Giver’s very own daughter who was assigned to be the new Receiver of Memory decided that killing herself was a better option than going through the pain of receiving all memories. It is Jonas however, who displays the most subversive acts of resistance. After training for a long period of time, he grows in awareness and develops a strong sense of individuality. At first, he begins to see colours, and then begins to resent the fact that the ability to detect colours has been eradicated from his community. Jonas comes to embrace the idea of choice and then chafes at the notion of an assigned role. Critic Don Latham states that Jonas “… refuses to accept passively his role or society’s rules. He displays a strong sense of individuality as well as courage and compassion in trying to remove himself and Gabriel from this world” (13). He escapes into a freezing climate; avoiding search

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