Fahrenheit 451 Essay

In the world of Fahrenheit 451, the members of society have conformed to hatred for books that could contribute to changing a person’s ideology. However, there will always be rebels amongst them. Hiding. Risking their lives to indulge in literature rather than damaging their minds with a screen. This futuristic novel foretells the issues faced in our society today. Materialism and technology. We've become greedy with gadgets. Advancement has come with a price. More and more people to become detached with the real world and have succumbed to technology.

Handphones. Headphones. These are two of a many devices in this world that divides our society. "And in her ears the little Seashells, the thimble radios tamped tight, and an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music and talk coming in, coming in on the shore of her unsleeping mind" (Bradbury 5). Montag's wife, Mildred, deals with depression. Rather than reaching out for help she copes with it alone with headphones. With such devices, certain things can sooth our lives and allow us to forget about problems.

Before quarantine was announced, I remember walking from class to class seeing (mainly) white  wired or wireless earphones/headphones lodged into students' ears. The sound of feet shuffling as people furiously type away while avoiding bumping into one another. Others pretending to do something on their phones to avoid eye contact with others. It made me realize how far we've come as a society. Instead of communicating in person, it's all through a device. Isn't it crazy how the first handphone (made by Motorola) was created forty-seven years ago? Since then, popularity upon them began.

In the novel, the society is extremely reliant on technology. It captivates them. Similar to the world today, we've allowed man-made devices to control us. Track our every move. Avert all our attention toward it. "Mechanical Hound never fails. Never since its first use in tracking quarry has this incredible invention made a mistake" (Bradbury 62). These robotic hounds are used to track fugitives (such as Guy Montag and many others in the outskirts). The government relies on these devices and it is practically their pride and joy. Thinking that it'll lead them to those who are wanted. "Drink this, too. It'll change the chemical index of your perspiration" (Bradbury 68). The rebels are quick on their feet and already know how to avoid being found. This simple concoction, deceives the mechanical hound that supposedly "never fails."
  
Sixty-seven years since the publication of Fahrenheit 451 has passed, humankind has developed an attachment to technology similar to the novel. We shouldn't value material interactions because we lose bits of ourselves to it. This blinds ourselves from everything and tend to forget what truly matters. 

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