Fahrenheit 451: Timeless Message and Characters

The message in Fahrenheit 451 is that a physical book is not so important except for the fact that by reading books your mind can be opened to new ideas.  By destroying books, the people lost some of their individuality, reflectiveness, and, of course, their most basic freedoms.  For a long time, people have been inspired and influenced by the things around them-whether it is a book, television show, or even nature.  Although books are not the only form of inspiration, they are nonetheless important.  When a book is intentionally being burned, it is not just the book itself being destroyed but the idea behind the book as well.  By burning the ideas, the government is trying to control what the people think, thus limiting their understanding individuality, and freedom.  Bradbury’s message to the readers is to beware of censorship and to fight for their rights in order that the suppression discussed in Fahrenheit 451 may never happen.  Faber is one timeless character type.  When something goes wrong, there are always people, like Faber, who disagree with what is being done but do nothing to oppose it.  He is the classical coward.  Another timeless character type is shown in Mildred.  She is classified as selfish, not caring the least bit about anything that does not concern herself.  After Montag explains to Mildred how a woman was burned alive rather than to be taken away from her books, Mildred comments on having to wash the rug (Bradbury 49).  Later, speaking of the woman she says, “She’s nothing to me; she shouldn’t have had books.  It was her responsibility, she should’ve thought of that.  I hate her.  She’s got you going and next thing you know we’ll be out, no house, no job, nothing (Bradbury 51).”  By reading this book, one lesson to be learned is to think for yourself, questioning everything and to never allow yourself to become brainwashed.  Another lesson from this story is, basically, censorship is bad.  People should work to preserve their liberties. 

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