Fahrenheit 451: History, Responsibilities between Groups, and Influences

One event that probably influences Ray Bradbury when writing Fahrenheit 451 was the burning of books in Germany in 1933.  Like in Bradbury’s book, the Nazis were not merely trying to destroy the books themselves but the ideas that were present in the books.  The German government and many of the people thought that the books were unpatriotic or even treasonous by criticizing the Fatherland in World War I (Book Burning).  People in Fahrenheit 451 did not want to read books because they considered them to be depressing and a waste of time.  By the time Bradbury was only eleven years old he began to write stories of his own.  Two years later, it must have surprised the young writer that books would be treated in such a way.  As Montag says from the story, it could take someone a lifetime to come up with the ideas, inspiration, and the time to write a book.  Then someone comes along (referring to himself as a firefighter) and destroys it in a matter of seconds.  Similar instances have occurred for about as long as books have existed.  For example, Imperial China, the Inquisition, the Khmer Rouge, Castro, the Taliban, and others have all burned books as well (Book Burning).   To a teenage writer this was probably a new and scary reality.  He wanted to make clear his view on the dangers of eradicating books from society.  In this way, I believe that history influenced Bradbury to write Fahrenheit 451. 

            I think that the author indirectly gave an idea of the ideal relationship between government and the people.  The people can chose to do whatever they wish as long as it is legal.  The government has no right getting into peoples’ private interests.  That is something that they will have to decide for themselves.  The government in Bradbury’s book almost took the role of an authoritarian parent.  They must correct anyone who has the wrong idealism or get rid of them, and they are allowed to choose what the people are and are not allowed to do in their free time.  Government should pass laws if they are necessary for the wellbeing of the country as long as they can pass through the Constitution.  If by some loophole a corrupt law is passed, it is the responsibility of the people to bring that error to light in order to protect their own rights and the rights of others.    

       

"Book Burning, 213 BC–2011 AD." Book Burning, 213 BC–2011 AD. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2012. <http://www4.uwm.edu/libraries/burnedbooks/>.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1967. Print.