Imagine a world without individual thought, a world in which words exist only in the form of entertainment in order to distract from serious contemplation. In Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 and its respective film adaptation by Francois Truffaut, this world is able to exist because society convinces its inhabitants that books contain nothing but “silly awful hurting words” (101) that should be burned. In this society, Montag represents the formerly naïve member that blindly lives his life as is expected until he becomes conscious of its injustice. Bradbury’s futuristic novel and Truffaut’s film adaptation critiques mass dependence on technology through a society devoid of deep thought, relevant to America today.
In both the novel and its film adaptation, books are burned in order to eliminate intellectual conflict. In the novel Montag nonchalantly explains to Clarisse that burning books is “fine work. Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulker, burn ‘em to ashes, then burn the ashes” (8). It is no coincidence that these influential works that would stimulate the reader’s mind are discarded without a second thought. Through his nonchalance, the outrageous act of burning books is made insignificant, an everyday act undeserving of consideration. Bradbury represents it as such in order to mirror individuals’ blind acceptance of the status quo even in the most ridiculous of circumstances. In the film version, the Captain explains the reason they burn books is because “Robinson Crusoe, the Negroes didn't like that because of his man, Friday. And Nietzsche, Neitzsche, the Jews didn't like Nietzsche. Here's a book about lung cancer. You see, all the cigarette smokers got into a panic, so for everybody's peace of mind, we burn it” (Trufautt). According to the Captain, or the enforcer of society’s laws, books cause a conflict of opinions. In order to eliminate this conflict of interests, or individual thought, the source of it must be destroyed, which Bradbury argues is books. As Montag reads “Dover Beach” to his wife and her friends, Mrs. Phelps begins “crying. The others in the middle of the desert watch her crying grow very loud […] They sat, not touching her, bewildered with her display. She sobbed uncontrollably” (Bradbury 100). As a direct result of the destruction of books, the characters in the novel are unable to cope with the emotion that poetry can stimulate. Instead of recognizing that emotion as powerful, the characters become very uncomfortable and denounce it as negative. On the contrary, Bradbury is arguing for the intellectual and emotional stimulation that books can provide and against the meaningless instant gratification that technology supplies to the unconscious masses.
Without books, the characters in Fahrenheit 451 are wholly dependent upon technology for happiness. While exposing the truth to Montag in hopes that he will accept society as is, Captain Beatty explains, that “technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick, thank God. Today, thanks to them, you can stay happy all the time” (Bradbury 58). While books bring conflict and negative emotions, technology is said to inspire happiness. This happiness is as artificial as the technology itself. This is apparent in the parlor scene in the film when Montag’s wife participates in the show by “say[ing] what [she] thinks” (Truffaut) about where they should place a particular guest. The irony is that the questions are shallow and do not require a moments contemplation. In Fahrenheit 451, not only is technology replacing books, but the technology available requires little to no thought. This instant gratification as Beatty exclaims keeps “them moving, don’t we give them fun? That’s all we live for isn’t it? For pleasure, for titillation? And you must admit our culture provides plenty of these” (Bradbury 59). Bradbury is critiquing society’s desire for the instant pleasure that technology brings; its distractions are often times mistaken for happiness. In reality, Bradbury argues that without any kind of intellectual stimulation, this dependence on technology creates a superficial happiness while destroying individuality. Ultimately it makes everyone “all be alike” (Bradbury 58) just as society desires.
Although Fahrenheit 451 was first published in the 1950s, it is significantly applicable to the modern fast-paced technological world of 2009. Instead of reading newspapers and finishing books, technology allows quick fixes to issues of time management. Yahoo provides flashy headlines of what is occurring worldwide, while Sparknotes allows individuals to get a shallow understanding of a novel without ever having to read the first page. In essence, thought provoking material is too time consuming to be considered valuable. As the saying goes, time is money after all. Facebook and Twitter, social networking sites that have millions of users worldwide, encourage narcissism and degrade communication. According to an article in USA Today, Bill Persky concludes that this technology is “actually destroying [communication]. How? By making it easier and faster for people everywhere to be in constant contact with each other -- about nothing” (Persky). Like Montag’s wife who participates in meaningless conversation through technology, modern society encourages insignificant communication in order to provide a distraction from the terrible realities of the world. Although there are wars, starvation, and poverty, the average American is unaware or unconcerned by this. Instead, they are constantly distracted by the endless, mindless entertainment available at the click of a mouse or button. Maybe with the destruction of communication, individuals will “all be[come] alike” (Bradbury 58) as Bradbury foresees.
Although Fahrenheit 451 may seem far-fetched, we do not actually need to burn books to destroy communication and individuality. It is occurring today through the emphasis on instant gratification and meaningless communication. Bradbury and Truffaut present society with a critique of its growing reliance on technology and its respective consequences in order to inspire change. Although some may choose to dismiss the message that Fahrenheit 451 exposes, it is becoming increasingly hard to deny the costs of a heavy dependence on technology.
Works Cited
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books, 1988. Print.
Fahrenheit 451. Dir. François Truffaut. 1966. DVD.
Persky, Bill. "We're killing communication." USA Today 2 Nov. 2009: 9A. General OneFile. Web. 16 Nov. 2009.
