Allusions In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 portrays a group of men called “firemen.” Their title, however, is ironic because of what fireman usually do. Instead of putting out fires, the men in this novel deliberately set books and suspected criminal homes ablaze. Montag, the novel’s protagonist, finds “pleasure” (Bradbury 1) in his job at the beginning of the book. Further into the story, he realizes that burning books and homes destroys knowledge and is fatal to others. Montag now recognizes that depriving a generation of history, religion, and morals have desensitized his people to the point that original thoughts are nonexistent. Furthermore, cares and concerns for others have vanished, and having fun reigns supreme in society.

In the novel Fahrenheit 451 there many allusion that demonstrate the themes in book. One of these allusions being the Book of Job which is a story about the perseverance of the humane spirit, a major theme in Fahrenheit 451. A second allusion is Confucius who shows the importance of literature and what is valued in life. A final allusion is Mahatma Gandhi who fought through censorship and oppression to change the ways of society. Montag throughout the book stays true to his goal and these same attributes are seen in the Book of Job.

Bradbury also uses a direct reference to a line from the Book of Ecclesiastes to foreshadow how Montag and Granger’s group were anticipating to guide society to find a new value for knowledge. After the war has come and finished, Montag and Granger talk about what is going to happen next. Granger explains to Montag that, “To everything there is a season. Yes. A time to

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is full of different allusions from different books and authors and also full of themes connected to the allusions. Some of the allusions in the book are Henry David Thoreau and his book, Walden. Guy Fawkes and the book of Job connect to the book as well.

Symbolism is a major literary device that helps people see a book through symbols that often have a deeper meaning. A symbol is used to explain something in a different way, using images, objects, etc. instead of just saying it in words. As you search for a deeper meaning in a work of art or literature it can help you understand the author’s intentions and the deeper significance of a work. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, symbols help reinforce the major themes of the book.

In the beginning of the novel, Ray Bradbury focuses on figurative language to convey his theme. Throughout the first part, Bradbury uses many forms of figurative language such similes, metaphors, and irony. One example of figurative language is on page 56, with the quote “there was no longer need of firemen for the old purposes. They were given a new job, as custodians of our peace of mind.” (Bradbury 56). This quote is a metaphor because it compares the new job

Thomas Jefferson once said, “That government is best which governs least…”. In Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury, the government puts extreme laws in place to “protect” the people. Except, that these laws keep the citizens from knowing the truth. The good laws like speed limit aren’t enforced and the things that shouldn’t matter, like owning a book, are so strongly enforced, that if it is you that is found to own a book, your house will be burnt down. The government keeps everyone in check by censoring the citizens. During the 1950’s, the entire country was in fear of communism. There was a blacklist of authors, actors, and public figures. No one would hire them or buy their work. Bradbury wanted to warn the country of what could happen if it continued being ignorant , and by using pathos, rhetorical questions, and repetition, he effectively conveyed his purpose.

In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 describes Mildred with the utilization of metaphors and imagery to characterize Mildred as hypnotized by technology.

Imagine a society where books are banned, technology has taken over and is on the verge of a world war. This is what you encounter when reading the totalitarian novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury from the perspective of the protagonist Guy Montag, a fireman with the task of burning every still existing book there is. Throughout the course of the novel, he begins questioning his current life-situation and evolves from a workaholic to a rule-breaking rebel in a matter of days. Considering the occupation of the protagonist, fire coincidentally has a significant role in this story, however, the symbolism changes coherently with Montag himself. The meaning of fire and burning provides dimension and depth and thus making it a food for thought type

Fahrenheit 451 contains many allusions; historic, mythological, and biblical. Bradbury uses these allusions to connect the book and reader’s life experiences. One example of a historical ".... when Mildred ran from the parlor like a native fleeing an eruption of Vesuvius." (pg. 93) Vesuvius was a famous volcano that erupted in AD79 destroying the city of Pompeii and all of its residents, illustrating the destructive capabilities of fire.

Ray Bradbury once stated, “I never consciously place symbolism in my writing. That would be a self-conscious exercise and self-consciousness is defeating to any creative act … During a lifetime, one saves up information which collects itself around centers in the mind; these automatically become symbols on a subliminal level and need only be summoned in the heat of writing.” (The Paris Review). Bradbury’s may not have consciously placed symbolism in Fahrenheit 451, but his use of symbolism throughout the story allows the reader to relate back to their most basic instincts, all while seeing a deeper meaning to what they are really looking at.

hroughout the novel of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, there have been many allusions that connected to alternative literature. fine famous authors like Shakspere, and Sir Phillip Sydney were tied into the story. The Bible and Greek stories were additionally concerned. The result of quoting these works of literature improved the story.

Fahrenheit 451 has been called an ingenious and life changing work of literature. It could not have had this effect on people, however, without the incredibly pivotal part 3 of the novel. This part is what shows the inherent hopeful nature of the writing. Ray Bradbury’s intent when writing Part 3 of Fahrenheit 451 was to show how even a dark and dystopian world like the one in the novel can be reborn into a new and better society, and that even the most hopeless of situations can be fixed. He demonstrates this intent through an analogy about the seasons, similes involving wax dolls, and finally the overarching metaphor of the phoenix.

Bradbury uses symbolism to express his concern about how powerful governments manipulate citizens. For instance, when Granger turns on the portable TV, “a man turned a corner… The helicopter light shot down a dozen brilliant pillars that built a cage all about the man… The innocent man stood bewildered… He glanced up at the sky and the wailing sirens… ‘Montag, don't move!’… The victim was seized by the Hound… Blackout. Silence. Darkness… an announcer on the dark screen said, ‘The search is over, Montag is dead; a crime against society has been avenged" (142). The pursuit of the innocent man symbolizes the government's power that it holds over citizens. The government depicts what they want the citizens to understand, instead of the real truth. The government knew that if

In the book Fahrenheit 451 the theme is a society/world that revolves around being basically brain washed or programmed because of the lack of people not thinking for themselves concerning the loss of knowledge, and imagination from books that don't exist to them. In such stories as the Kurt Vonnegut's "You have insulted me letter" also involving censorship to better society from vulgarity and from certain aspects of life that could be seen as disruptive to day to day society which leads to censorship of language and books. Both stories deal with censorship and by that society is destructed in a certain way by the loss of knowledge from books.