How "Fahrenheit 451" Connects to Modern Times

Ray Bradbury’s novel may have come out decades ago, but his message early resonates with current events. “Fahrenheit 451” is set in a dystopian future where everything is controlled by the government and mass media. There’s neither independent thought nor real values. People chase the rush of instant gratification through drugs, fast-driving cars, and a constant barrage of entertainment. The story is set in the fictional universe. But the problems of tyranny and moral choice are as applicable to modern times as ever.

Ray Bradbury heavily criticizes the censorship of ideas and the overexposure to mass media. These ideas are as relevant in 2022 as they were in 1953 when Bradbury wrote this book. With the rise of social media and millions of people getting glued to their screens, the future described in “Fahrenheit 451” may still be possible. The book also gives a chilling look at what government overreach can do to ideas. Even in the modern world, the outlawing of books, ideas, and political philosophies has become more apparent.

Just a couple of years before, the Burbank Unified School District Superintendent removed several books from the required reading list. The titles were:

• “The Cay;”
• “Of Mice and Men;”
• “To Kill a Mockingbird;”
• “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn;”
• “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” (Paredes).

All of these books are timeless literary classics. But they were still removed because of the language used in them. Did we forget what the key story points in Ray Bradbury’s novel were? He urges people to think for themselves and take responsibility for their actions and the actions of the society they live in. Otherwise, people will slowly ban everything they find unpleasant. This journey has Guy face his previous beliefs and come to clashes with those around him. One of the story’s main conflicts revolves around relations with his wife Mildred and the chief of the firemen squad, Beatty.

As the story progresses, Montag becomes repulsed by Mildred’s empty existence and Beatty’s willful desire to destroy books. It does a really good job at showcasing how bleak things may look when you are all alone and can’t rely on anyone. It can be very hard to stay sane and true to your beliefs when virtually anyone around you doesn’t even consider them as sensical.

Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” is overall a great piece of dystopian literature. The book will never lose its appeal thanks to the timeless themes. Self-discovery, dissent, censorship, overexposure to information, and other things still ring true. As much as it seems like a dark fairytale, the core of the book is a reflection of the reality many people live in today. And we should never forget that no matter how comfortable and bright our lives look.

Works Cited

1. Paredes, Lisa. “Burbank Superintendent Bans Use Of N-Word In Schools, Makes Five Books Non-Mandatory For Classroom Work.” MyBurbank, 28 Nov.2020, https://myburbank.com/burbank-superintendent-bans-use-of-n-word-in-schools-makes-five-books-non-mandatory-for-classroom-work/.
2. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. Simon & Schuster, 2012.