I read quite frequently and therefore pinning down a
favorite book is a hard task. Of course, the Bible always comes first, as the
ultimate source of truth, but if I were to name the one that follows this, it
would have to be Fahrenheit 451. Written by Ray Bradbury in 1953, it
weaves one of the most telling prophecies of human nature ever told.
The main character in this story is Guy Montag, a fireman. But being in the
future, this occupation does not carry the same responsibilities as it does
now. Rather than putting out fires and saving people from harm, firemen burn
books and save people from conflict. The population of the world sits around
and watches television, particularly a show revolving around “the family”—a
fake representation of what no one any longer has.
Montag’s world is turned upside down one day when he meets a young girl who
questions his acceptance of society and encourages him to think for himself.
This leaves Montag in a mental hurricane. He begins to illegally take books
from the houses that he is ordered to burn and slowly he gains knowledge before
breaking free of the chains of civilization. But will he break free completely?
And what does he do now that he’s discovered the truth?
The interesting thing about this story is the self-inflicted nature of
ignorance. Not many people have seen the film Equilibrium, but it is a
near copy of this novel. In Equilibrium, however, the population is
administered a drug that kills all emotion. Fahrenheit 451 is much more
realistic. The people are not forced to stop learning or thinking for
themselves; they choose to stop. Mindless entertainment is their desire,
because knowledge leads to opinion, and opinion leads to conflict. It’s much
easier to live in a world where conflict no longer exists. Or is it? Another
quote from the book illustrates this idea: “If you don't want a man unhappy
politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one.
Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war.”
These are the delving questions asked in this novel. The story is narrated by
Ray Bradbury’s unsurpassed writing ability. He injects more emotion and meaning
into every sentence then any author I’ve ever read. There are so many amazing
quotes from this book. This review is not giving it justice. Just go read it.
Another quote from the book reads, “We have everything we need to be happy, but
we aren't happy. Something's missing.” As Christians, we know that this missing
something is God. Ray Bradbury is not a Christian. However, one of the main
books that Guy Montag finds and reads is the Bible. Bradbury at least in some
part understands the importance of the greatest truth of all. And that’s where
he gets it right. A world without knowledge or opinion is not a utopia. A world
with a single driving opinion can be, though. And that’s what heaven is: God’s
opinion, which happens to be the absolute truth.
Go read this book. Try to grasp the tragedy of a place where people do not
think. Without outside influence, our society may head in this same direction -
perhaps not to the same extent, but some of this has already begun happening,
especially in our cultivation of mindless activity. Our civilization needs
things that cause them to think about what they believe and why they believe it.
This is not limited to books: “The same infinite detail and awareness could be
projected through the radios and televisions, but are not. No, no, it's not
books at all you're looking for! Take it where you can find it, in old
phonograph records, old motion pictures, and in old friends; look for it in
nature and look for it in yourself. Books were only one type of receptacle
where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is
nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they
stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.” Any
form of media can contain this quality. But in order to cause change, it first
has to be created.
Here's one last quote from the book. See if you glimpse any resemblance to
today's society: "Give the people contests they win by remembering the
words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn
Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so full
of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then
they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving.
And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them
any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way
lies melancholy." Reforming this attitude is our responsibility.
Let's get to it.
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