The maxim “ignorance is bliss” is explored by both George Orwell and Ray Bradbury in their counter-cultural literary texts, warning of the possible dangers in future western society. Orwell and Bradbury both use a variety of similar and differing techniques to illustrate their respective protagonists’ struggle against an oppressive government and dystopian society. The narrator’s point of view is used to describe both worlds in which the oppression of each society is prevalent and directly related to the struggle of their protagonist characters. Both authors signify their own struggle in society by using characterisation and imagery to directly create the both contrast and conflict between the perspective of their protagonists and that of their …show more content…
Orwell and Bradbury use this technique to position the reader to empathise with the protagonists’ struggle. During the first of three ‘acts’ in both novels, the protagonists question their society and display hatred for what they believe is oppressing them. As this happens, the reader reciprocates such emotions; just as these protagonists know only what is fed to them, the reader is only subjected to Winston or Guy’s perspective. In this way, Orwell encourages the reader to feel hatred towards Big Brother when Winston writes “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” (Orwell, pg. 20), as the limited perspective has already positioned the reader to identify with Winston’s opinions. Similarly, Bradbury manipulates the readers to view the firemen critically during Guy’s enlightenment, “last night… I suddenly realised I didn’t like them at all” (Bradbury, pg. 87). Having only Guy’s perspective on the dystopia he inhabits, allows only his thoughts to be shared with the reader, comparable to Winston’s relationship with the reader. The relationship between the reader and narrator continues as Orwell and Bradbury explore the different outcomes of the struggle against oppression. Guy is overcome with enlightened knowledge and wisdom, “He hadn’t known fire could look this way. He had never thought in his life that it could give as well as take.” (Bradbury, pg.
War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength. These three phrases may contradict everything that you know and have been taught, but in the “negative utopia” of George Orwell’s novel 1984 these are
Imagine living in a world where you are not in control of your own thoughts. Imagine living in a world in which all the great thinkers of the past have been blurred from existence. Imagine living in a world where life no longer involves beauty, but instead a controlled system that the government is capable of manipulating. In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, such a world is brought to the awareness of the reader through a description of the impacts of censorship and forced conformity on people living in a futuristic society. In this society, all works of literature have become a symbol of unnecessary controversy and are outlawed. Individuality and thought is outlawed. The human mind is
In Bradbury 's Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian society is depicted lacking one major aspect; books. Written in the wake of the cultural purge by Nazi Germany, there are evident parallels of the effects of mass media on culture between the book and the events that took place in Germany. Bradbury 's intent of the novel is to demonstrate that in the lack of books and outside forms of culture, information given replaces true, original thought, and the one thing that makes people human disappears. Without the ability to freely think or successfully communicate, humanity becomes no different than a machine. In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 comes to the realization that the significance of individuality, and that one’s own free thoughts, ideas, and perceptions are what gives the individual purpose, and the world a meaning. Guy Montag comes to a similar realization when he follows the steps of Equality 7-2521, and takes a step back from society to gain a lens through Clarisse McKlellan. A lack of culture and literature has visible effects of Clarisse McKellan, Guy Montag, Mildred, and society as a whole. The ideologies, class struggles, and methods of control depicted in Fahrenheit 451 shed light upon the oppression of culture in the absence of books, literature, and a basis for freethought.
In the dystopian worlds created by the film director Andrew Niccol and renowned author George Orwell, notions of control and freedom are explored. Both worlds contain an overarching power that governs the rest of the population and restricts freedom of individuals, these powers also aid in the progression of technology, which further act to control individuals. The characterisations of the protagonists of each text portray the lack of freedom from the perspective of those that are affected. Both authors use a variety of techniques to portray themes of control and freedom in their texts.
George Orwell once said, “freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”, that, essentially, “speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act”. (“George Orwell”) Orwell’s words reveal his political views in the absolute truest form. His uninhibited writing style forced readers to not only to listen what he had to say, but to also recognize his writing as the truth. Although his veracity was supposed to be accepted without question, Orwell defined oppressive ideas of the government by exposing elements such as class division, and the failed attempts of the middle class to establish a meaningful union with the working class. Through his symbolic storytelling in
In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray bradbury, Bradbury shows that behind the destructive fire and the burning of books, citizens believe that the key to happiness is ignorance. In the story, the citizens of the dystopia don’t question what is hidden from them, but the main character of the story ponders what he is told and discovers truth and happiness through the knowledge gained from reading stolen books.
In the novel 1984, George Orwell relates the tension between outward conformity and inward questioning by allowing the reader to see inside of the mind of Winston Smith. Orwell uses Winston’s rebellious thoughts to counteract his actions in order to show the reader how a dystopian society can control the citizens. Although Winston is in an obvious state of disbelief in the society, his actions still oppose his thoughts because of his fear of the government. Winston’s outward conformity and inward questioning relate to the meaning of the novel by showing Winston’s fight to truth being ended by the dystopian society’s government.
Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury that depicts a futuristic American society where books are banned and independent thought is persecuted. Bradbury uses his imagination to take a hard look at a world consumed by technology, and he presents predictions about pleasure, violence and anti-intellectualism that are alarmingly similar to the modern American society. Notably, in both societies people find pleasure in entertainment that is endlessly preoccupying. Second, people are violent and careless. Finally, anti-intellectualism and suppression of independent thought affect both societies, as firemen ban books in Fahrenheit 451 and, in the
Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 presents readers with multiple themes. In the fictional society of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, books are banned and firemen create fires instead of putting them out. Bradbury portrays the society as dystopian. Bradbury crafted the novel to be interpreted intellectually. The characters claim to be happy. However, the reader can conclude otherwise. Bradbury creates a question for the reader to answer: Is ignorance bliss or does the ability to think for oneself create happiness? Bradbury shows the importance of self-reflection, happiness and the ability to think for oneself as well as isolation due to technology, and the importance of nature and animals. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury conveys the stories’ themes through characterization and symbols.
Living in a society with free sharing of knowledge allows individuals to use differing viewpoints to determine their own perceptions. Many develop their identity and outlook of the world through sharing ideas in schools, literature, with peers, and in the media. However, when this communication process is limited or suppressed, people are inhibited from making fair assumptions and decisions. While this limits individuals’ freedom, societal systems can benefit from censorship since they can control ideas while preventing strife. These suppressive structures are evident in the societies of Pleasantville, by Gary Ross, and Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, as both dystopian societies create a false sense of security through the lack of conflicts
The world of burning books, talking parlor walls, and speeding cars captivated the readers who read Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451. Through the use of figurative language, Bradbury creates a complex, yet a dull-minded, society where literature and human philosophy are degenerating. Bradbury illustrates this society through the protagonist, Guy Montag, who develops and changes his mentality on his society throughout the novel after realizing the truth behind it. However, Bradbury does not only paint the truth about Montag’s society, but he also conveys a representation of our society through the media of Fahrenheit 451. The media of Fahrenheit 451 displays a rather disillusioned, ‘perfect’ image of how this society portrays itself to be even though it is the opposite.
Would you rather have awareness of the world around you or just be completely oblivious? In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, you clearly don't have a choice. Bradbury uses figurative language, symbolism, and biblical references in the book to express Bradbury’s concern about how powerful governments manipulate citizens.
The first use of literary devices in George Orwell's 1984, is situational and verbal irony. Throughout 1984 Orwell is relaying what he believes a totalitarian government would look like in using the phrases "War is Peace," "Slavery is Freedom" and "Ignorance is Strength" (Orwell, 4). This suggests that Big Brother is trying to make people believe the opposite of what is true. Such a thing would help them by allowing for more control when they can change a person’s way of thinking. Furthermore, he says that Winston believes that O'Brien is thinking the same way about the government as he is, but as it turns out he is a member of the Thought Police (Orwell, 17 and 239). George Orwell has proven in this text that one never really knows the motivation of a person when it comes to a totalitarian government. At first, Winston thinks that O'Brien and he are on the same page when it comes to the government;
Orwell uses Winston Smith, our main character, to exemplify the message he repeatedly tries to get across. Winston is a middle-aged man who is alone, or so it seems. It quickly becomes clear through his awkward behavior that he is constantly being
The book, 1984 by George Orwell, is about the external and internal conflicts that take place between the two main characters, Winston and Big Brother and how the two government ideas of Democracy and totalitarianism take place within the novel. Orwell wrote the novel around the idea of communism/totalitarianism and how society would be like if it were to take place. In Orwell’s mind democracy and communism created two main characters, Winston and Big Brother. Big Brother represents the idea of the totalitarian party. In comparison to Big Brother, Winston gives and represents the main thought of freedom, in the novel Winston has to worry about the control of the thought police because he knows that the government with kill anyone who