Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451"

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at how "Fahrenheit 451" raises questions about the ethics, propriety and efficacy of government censorship. The paper shows how Bradbury is not attacking the government, but is encouraging us all to think independently and reach decisions based on access to all the information we could need. The paper highlights Bradbury's urge for us to follow our own instincts, as opposed to blindly following the government's orders.

From the Paper:

"Fahrenheit 451 continues to raise questions about the ethics, propriety, and efficacy of government censorship. It serves as the flash point for any fears regarding the dangers of censorship in a Democratic society. This flash point emanates from the fundamental edict in Bradbury's book issued by the government that all books must be burned. The protagonist Guy Montag is a fireman, one of those charged with carrying out the book burning. However, through love which is generally discouraged in the society in which he lives, Montag discovers deeper truths than following the all pervading directives issued by his government. The social reaction to the book examined in research reflects social attitudes towards the foundation of Democracy and Freedom of Expression, one of the inalienable rights granted us by our government. It also serves as a reminder that our own instincts still need to be our greatest guide in determining courses of action and the morality behind those actions thereof."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "All fired up.(Seriously ...)(Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 banned )." New Internationalist 396 (Dec 2006): p24(1).
• "Banned Books, take two.(The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Fahrenheit 451, and The Diary of Anne Frank)." Instructor (1990) 116.5 (Jan-Feb 2007): p12(1).
• Goodes, Pamela. "ALA, ACLU Challenge CIPA with Dual Federal Lawsuits.(Children's Internet Protection Act)." American Libraries 32.5 (May 2001): p20.
• Bock, David and Appello, Tim. "Sci-fi man. (40th anniversary of Ray Bradbury's anti-censorship novel 'Fahrenheit 451')." Entertainment Weekly n192 (Oct 15, 1993 n192): pp63(1).
• Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. 1953. New York: Del Rey, 1991.

More papers on Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451":

• Analytical Essay # 12849 : "Ray Bradbury "Fahrenheit 451"
• Book Review # 118091 : "Fahrenheit 451"
• Essay # 73725 : "The Writing Style of Ray Bradbury"
• Analytical Essay # 60600 : "Fearless Free Thought in "Fahrenheit 451"

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