Book burning in dystopia

Fahrenheit 451

by Ray Bradbury

Rating / ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /

Originally published 1953

Considered to be a classic of science fiction and possibly Bradbury’s finest work, Fahrenheit 451 presents a near-future dystopian society. Books are illegal and must be burned. The protagonist is Guy Montag, a “fireman,” who does not put out fires but starts them. He burns books.

The novel serves as a cautionary tale on two levels. Obviously, book burning and book banning are shown to be bad for society. This is still meaningful as books continue to be banned in our society. Less obviously, the novel warns that anti-intellectualism threatens society. This is a common theme in dystopian fiction, such as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. It is exemplified in Fahrenheit 451 by the “parlor walls,” wall-size interactive televisions which are chillingly like today’s huge TVs and mindless reality shows.

Montag’s supervisor, Captain Beatty, tells him 

“And so when houses were finally fireproofed completely, all over the world (you were correct in your assumption the other night) there was no longer need of firemen for the old purposes. They were given the new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors. That’s you, Montag, and that’s me.”

The opposite point of view comes from Professor Faber, whom Montag once met in a park. 

“I don’t talk things, sir,” said Faber. “I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know I’m alive.”

Rated 4 stars out of 5. It loses a star because Montag is such an idiot. He does such stupid things after his “a-ha” moment. For example, he spouts poetry to his wife’s clueless friends when they’d rather be watching and interacting with the parlor walls. Then he’s surprised when one of them rats him out. I can’t cheer for such a dumb “hero.”