Fahrenheit 451

Literary analysis and summary of the dystopian short novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. First published in 1953, the novel is regarded as perhaps the greatest work by the American author. Critics praised it for its stance against censorship and its defense of literature as necessary both to the humanity of individuals and to civilization.

What is Fahrenheit 451 plot summary?

The book tells the story of Guy Montag and his transformation from a book-burning fireman to a book-reading rebel. Montag lives in an oppressive society that attempts to eliminate all sources of complexity, contradiction, and confusion to ensure uncomplicated happiness for all its citizens.

In Fahrenheit 451, books were forbidden as a means for the government to control the thoughts of the public. Excuses such as offensive language and resentment over different levels of intellect, which reportedly made people feel bad, are some of the given reasons as to why books were banned.

The title of the novel itself, Fahrenheit 451, is itself a reference to fire, as it is the temperature at which paper will burn on its own. Bradbury uses fire to symbolize destruction, rebirth, as well as knowledge.

The novel’s ending depicts the inevitable self-destruction of such an oppressive society. Yet the ending also offers a specter of hope. Now that he’s in the country, Montag has the leisure to think for himself for the first time in his life.

literary devices

The writing style of Fahrenheit 451 is lyrical and descriptive. Bradbury’s poetic prose makes frequent use of similes, metaphors, and personification. Bradbury used many others rhetorical devices too, for example, the entirety of Fahrenheit 451 is ironic in the sense that firemen are hired to destroy property instead of to protect it. Dramatic irony occurs when characters expect one thing, but the audience is aware that the characters are incorrect.

Themes

The novel addresses complex themes of censorship, freedom, conformity and technology. Unlike most science fiction, Fahrenheit 451 does not view technology as a universally good. Rather, the novel explores the potential for technological advancement to make humans less free.

Literary point of view

Bradbury employs a third-person limited narrator in Fahrenheit 451. We know only Montag’s movements and thoughts. The narration follows Montag like a camera, and the reader is never allowed into the lives of other characters, except for what they say to him. This inevitably increases our sympathy for Montag.

The novel’s subject matter led to its censorship in apartheid South Africa and various schools in the United States. This is due to the use of profanity and discussions about drugs with a complete disregard for the irony of the situation.