Introduction to Introduction to Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451

By Ray BradburyBy Ray Bradbury

Adapted from the Adapted from the Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 Teacher’s Teacher’s GuideGuide

“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get

people to stop reading them.”

-Ray Bradbury, "Reader's Digest", January 1994

The Author – Ray BradburyThe Author – Ray Bradbury

Wrote for Alfred Hitchcock & “The Wrote for Alfred Hitchcock & “The Twilight Zone” TV showTwilight Zone” TV show

Author of more than 500 published Author of more than 500 published worksworks

Social Critic: Analyzes problems in Social Critic: Analyzes problems in society and proposes solutions by society and proposes solutions by specific measures, radical reform, or specific measures, radical reform, or even revolutionary changeeven revolutionary change

Bradbury tries to “prevent the future,” Bradbury tries to “prevent the future,” not “predict the future,” but he not “predict the future,” but he actually does anticipate the futureactually does anticipate the future– Seashell radios in this novel were a Seashell radios in this novel were a

prediction of the Walkmanprediction of the Walkman– Big-screen and interactive TV/WiiBig-screen and interactive TV/Wii– Population explosionPopulation explosion– Rise in violence (including gun Rise in violence (including gun

violence)violence)– Growing illiteracyGrowing illiteracy– Condensation of information into Condensation of information into

what we now call “sound bites”what we now call “sound bites”

Dystopian vs. Utopian Dystopian vs. Utopian LiteratureLiterature

Utopian literatureUtopian literature describes an ideal describes an ideal (imaginary) world. (imaginary) world.

Dystopian literatureDystopian literature paints the paints the opposite of the ideal world, a place that is opposite of the ideal world, a place that is highly unpleasant, such as a government highly unpleasant, such as a government that seeks total control of that seeks total control of

individuals' lives. A fatal flaw individuals' lives. A fatal flaw

has occurred to destroy thehas occurred to destroy the

intended perfect world (utopia). intended perfect world (utopia).

Other Dystopian Other Dystopian novels/storiesnovels/stories

19841984 by George Orwellby George Orwell The Handmaid’s TaleThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret by Margaret

AtwoodAtwood Animal FarmAnimal Farm by George Orwell by George Orwell AnthemAnthem by Ayn Rand by Ayn Rand ““The Lottery” by Shirley JacksonThe Lottery” by Shirley Jackson A Clockwork OrangeA Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess by Anthony Burgess ““Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt VonnegutHarrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut The Giver The Giver by Lois Lowryby Lois Lowry The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins by Suzanne Collins

Historical ContextHistorical Context

Written in the 1950sWritten in the 1950s World War II (1939-1945) had just ended; World War II (1939-1945) had just ended;

the US had dropped the US had dropped the first atomic the first atomic bombsbombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasakiand Nagasaki

Bradbury was influenced by the Bradbury was influenced by the

book burningsbook burnings of the Nazi of the Nazi

regime in Germany during the regime in Germany during the

1930s1930s

Political repression and dictatorship in Soviet Political repression and dictatorship in Soviet Union and fascist Spain after World War II: Union and fascist Spain after World War II: books were banned and intellectuals books were banned and intellectuals persecuted.persecuted.

By 1949, communism had spread to Eastern By 1949, communism had spread to Eastern Europe and China Europe and China

After World War II: Europe & US vs. the After World War II: Europe & US vs. the Soviet Union in what was called the “COLD Soviet Union in what was called the “COLD WAR.” The threat of nuclear war increased WAR.” The threat of nuclear war increased (more on this to come).(more on this to come).

By mid-1950s, nearly 60% of Americans were By mid-1950s, nearly 60% of Americans were members of the middle class;members of the middle class;– More $$$ to buy things. More $$$ to buy things. – Consumerism = SuccessConsumerism = Success– Increased technologyIncreased technology

The electronics industry became the 5The electronics industry became the 5thth largest largest industry. Television had a widespread impact industry. Television had a widespread impact in American homesin American homes

The increase in prosperity after the war led to The increase in prosperity after the war led to an increased passivity and conformity. Jobs an increased passivity and conformity. Jobs were plentiful and the common adage of the were plentiful and the common adage of the time period was “follow orders, and you will time period was “follow orders, and you will succeed.”succeed.”

Fear Leads to CensorshipFear Leads to Censorship

Fears that the Soviet Union was Fears that the Soviet Union was going to attack and take over the US going to attack and take over the US democracy lead to mass paranoia democracy lead to mass paranoia and intense fear among the and intense fear among the American publicAmerican public

The world could now be destroyed by The world could now be destroyed by the push of a buttonthe push of a button

Senator Joseph McCarthy began a Senator Joseph McCarthy began a campaign to root out secret campaign to root out secret Communists in the government and Communists in the government and entertainment industryentertainment industry

McCarthy charged, without evidence, that McCarthy charged, without evidence, that dozens of government officials and artists dozens of government officials and artists were secret members of the Communist were secret members of the Communist Party.Party.

He formed the House Committee on Un-He formed the House Committee on Un-American Activities.American Activities.

Films were censored, artists blackballed, Films were censored, artists blackballed, and many people never worked again.and many people never worked again.

The public went along with the campaign, The public went along with the campaign, too afraid of nuclear war to stop the too afraid of nuclear war to stop the madness. Very few had the courage to madness. Very few had the courage to speak up against the unjust persecution.speak up against the unjust persecution.

By the end of the 1950’s, former President By the end of the 1950’s, former President Truman called the HCUA the “most un-Truman called the HCUA the “most un-American thing in the country today.”American thing in the country today.”

Issues/Themes to Watch ForIssues/Themes to Watch For The dangers of technologyThe dangers of technology Censorship/Free SpeechCensorship/Free Speech

– The importance of booksThe importance of books Individualism vs. Apathy Individualism vs. Apathy

– the power of one person, following what the power of one person, following what they know to be right & without regard for they know to be right & without regard for the cost, to change the worldthe cost, to change the world

Government Corruption/Political Government Corruption/Political RepressionRepression

Alienation & Loneliness vs. True Alienation & Loneliness vs. True HappinessHappiness

In 1979, Bradbury discovered that his In 1979, Bradbury discovered that his

own editors had own editors had censoredcensored language language in 75 separate sections of in 75 separate sections of Fahrenheit Fahrenheit

451451 without his knowledge or without his knowledge or consent!consent!

““Students, reading the novel which, after all, Students, reading the novel which, after all, deals with censorship and book-burning deals with censorship and book-burning

in the future, wrote to tell me of this in the future, wrote to tell me of this

exquisite irony.”exquisite irony.”

Some banned books from Some banned books from around the world:around the world:

The Diary of a Young GirlThe Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank by Anne Frank The Harry Potter SeriesThe Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling by JK Rowling Tom SawyerTom Sawyer & & Huck Finn Huck Finn by Mark Twainby Mark Twain HamletHamlet & & MacBethMacBeth by Wm. Shakespeare by Wm. Shakespeare To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee by Harper Lee Leaves of GrassLeaves of Grass by Walt Whitman by Walt Whitman FrankensteinFrankenstein by Mary Shelley by Mary Shelley The BibleThe Bible and and The Q’uranThe Q’uran Little Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding Hood

For more information:For more information: http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-books.htmlbooks.html

Consider this:Consider this:

““There is more than one way to burn a There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people book. And the world is full of people

running about with lit matches.”running about with lit matches.” - Ray Bradbury- Ray Bradbury

– Is there Is there everever a time when we should a time when we should censor a book, a piece of art, etc? censor a book, a piece of art, etc?

– WhoWho gets to decide what gets censored gets to decide what gets censored and when? Government? Schools? and when? Government? Schools? Parents? Employers?Parents? Employers?