Fahrenheit 451 Is The Dystopian Novel
Fahrenheit 451 is the dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury in 1953. The novel is set in a future American society in which books are burned once they are found by fireman. In the novel Bradbury uses the art of symbolism to help strengthen the themes and motifs in the novel, such as censorship and ignorance for example. In this essay we will discuss Bradbury’s use of symbols and their importance in the novel.
In the book there are parlor walls, which are big screens installed in homes that take up entire walls and make the viewers feel like they are apart of the show. In the beginning of the novel Mildred, Montag’s spouse, is so attracted by the parlor walls that she asks him when will they finally get the final parlor wall installed. Mildred says “it’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have the fourth wall installed (Bradbury 18). Bradbury uses these to represent how technology addiction can isolate people from society. These walls are very expensive, Montag states that installing the fourth would be on third of his yearly pay she still insist on the installation, she states “How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall torn out and a fourth wall-TV put in?”(Bradbury 18). This also shows that she is dissatisfied with the fact that she only has three parlor walls. This demonstrated that her main priority in life is entertainment and satisfaction. Adding that fourth wall represents Mildred’s disconnection from Montag. It represents the fear the Bradbury has for generations to come being disconnected from one another.
In the novel there are mechanical hounds described as being dog shaped with “eight legs spidered under it and rubber-padded paws” (Bradbury 22). The hound is made of metal and is used to hunt fugitives who have gone against the laws of society’s. The hounds represents the control the government and the manipulation of technology. In the novel Beatty says “it doesn’t think anything we don’t want it to think,” (Bradbury 25). This make it clear that the hound is programmed by the government to act and function, though it doesn’t have any emotions or thoughts of it’s own. That could also double as a metaphor for the government wants its citizens to think.
Symbols such as, parlor walls, mechanical hounds, and are very important important in this novel. They help reveal what Bradbury was feeling about where he felt society heading as he was writing this novel. He felt that technology will end ruining human connection, and that the government will use this technology to manipulate society into their mold.
