A dystopian world is one that is destructive, implying that the world of Fahrenheit 451 is, indeed, a world engulfed in the art of destruction. Destruction, in this world, is the action or process of disregarding human life, roles and value in a society. It results in irreparable damage through the harm perpetrated in a continuous and looping manner as destructive acts befall the people persistently. Destruction is even more prevalent as the world of Fahrenheit 451 occur in a war zone, proving the catastrophic and ruinous violence that is evident is a place that is fighting war. Furthermore, the symbol of fire in the world brings provision to the fact that there is a dire need to destroy factual evidence of a human race. Moreover, the existential crisis of dehumanisation increases violence, human rights violations and war crimes in the world. The abolishment of books also clearly imply that the world is chaotic as destruction is a social norm that humans conform to without knowing that it leaves fatalistic results. Also, self-destruction is lucid as humans do not know that they are living in misery. With that, it suggests that destruction is a common theme across the narrative dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451.
Fire is an interesting symbol of destruction in Fahrenheit 451. It signifies the reversed role of firemen in the society of Fahrenheit 451 while also the sacred act of burning books. The roles of the firemen being reversed states that they are destroying the world by burning books with fire instead of restoring the world by putting out the fire created, which is the supposed universal role of a fireman. Clarisse mentioned ‘Strange… they needed firemen to stop the flames (Bradbury 3)’. This suggests that fire used to be an enemy to mankind. However, in Fahrenheit, it is deemed as a blessing as it cleanses the people from the evil connotations behind books. This means that the misconception of a fireman in the world contributes to the destruction of the society. This reversed role also glorifies the very fact that individuals are robbed of their entitlement to think differently although they know that there is a possibility for them to actually save people from fire. This evidently implies that there is a destruction towards the ability for people to think freely as they are conformed to the societal norm that they have to adapt to in this world. This shows that their oblivion towards the possibilities of their role as a fireman implies that they do not have any self-awareness as they are constantly being ordered around to burn books without a logical reason. This insinuates the idea that the people would rather destroy the factor that might be affecting their society rather than solve the underlying problem without negative and chaotic methods like using fire. On the other hand, the sacred act of burning books destroys one’s morality. This is because firemen, not knowing a proper version of their history, faces an existential moral crisis as they question their purpose in the appointment they have in society. This significantly shows that the act of burning book itself purposefully demolishes the mundane human morale. Captain Beatty mentioned that ‘The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.’ (Bradbury 106) This suggests that he has a falsified mindset that books are all medieval artefacts as they seek the purpose to cause conflicts between a society. This implies that he has a one-sided view towards books as he does not acknowledge the fact that the books are able to aid in societal problems. This insinuates that Captain Beatty fails to recognise that books are able to help his fellow firemen to overcome their crisis as books significantly reiterates specific roles that firemen has to adhere to for the safety and serenity of society. Thus, with the destruction of the books through fire, humans are clearly being disadvantaged as their entitlement to gain knowledge, through the existence of books, is taken away from them. With that this shows that one is not able to develop their moral and ethics as they are to only obey certain commands given by their hierarchy, which might not necessarily be accurate to ensure that chaos does not happen in the society. Hence, this shows that the destruction of books led to the destruction of personal ethics that may help firemen to prevent themselves from being confused over their actual role in society. This shows that fire causes irreparable damage to the world of Fahrenheit 451. Moreover,
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In addition, the existence of dehumanisation makes destruction in the world of Fahrenheit 451 even more coherent. This is because humans are deprived of positive human qualities. This is done through freedom of speech and freewill being taken away from the people. Being people without the ability to voice out opinions, no one cares about the circumstances they are in, even if they are in danger. This is because they are not able to ask for help as their cries would be neglected unless the government allows or commands for aiding. In the book, it was mentioned that ‘The firehouse trembled as a great flight of jet planes whistled a single note across the black morning sky (Bradbury 62)’ This suggests that people were in a war zone where jeopardy is imminent. However, due to the non-existent freedom of speech, the society has a lackadaisical view of death as if it is meaningless. This implies that the people were indeed used to lives being lost. This shows that it seemed to be a societal norm for everyone to conform to the fact that death is insignificant as it happens constantly. This insinuates the idea that the people were blindly following one another since no one bothered to speak up on their opinions on an issue. This suggests that the demolition of the world is explicitly certain as no one is keen to save the world from collapsing. This implies that the people were increasingly unaware of the mounting tension in the world they live in. Hence, the world would easily be destroyed by dictators since no one is fighting for their rights to live. Moreover, Mildred mentioned that ‘'They had two machines, really. One of them slid down into your stomach like a black cobra down an echoing well… (Bradbury 14)’ This suggests that humans were mercilessly tormented as if they do not have the ability to feel agony, being in pain. This implies that technology was viewed as a tool to implicate pain which was a norm since people did not know they were in misery. This insinuates that the fact that people took pain as normal, therefore, they are ignorant towards the cruelty they are facing. This shows that danger is then going to be definite and continuous since no one voices out the wrongs of the government’s ruling towards its people. Hence, the lack of mental capacity allows the inhibition of aggression to occur constantly as abuse is not seen as a wrongdoing. Therefore, the people, being unaware of the prejudice they are facing, conforms to the injustice and play along as the government says. This distinctly destroys the society as a whole as people are foolish due to the fact that they do not know that their actions distort their society by letting pain be inflicted upon them and hence, leading to irreparable damage to the population as they live in violence. Thus, the disgrace to humans shows that Fahrenheit 451 is a world of ruination.
The abolishment of knowledge also exemplifies the theme of destruction. This is because knowledge is a key factor to the development of a society. Hence, without knowledge, in such a dystopian world, everyone is oppressed to know only certain claims that are desired of them to know. This is an unfateful circumstance as the world of Fahrenheit 451 is full of barbarity. Thus, the knowledge that the society is robbed off from gives them the misinterpretation that their living condition is habitual and fairly normal. In the text, Captain Beatty said ‘Out of the nursery, into the college, and then back into the nursery (Bradbury 52).’ This suggests that the society is full of mindless beings as they are being indoctrinated with the fact that they do not need to have educational and intellectual pursuits as the government plans their milestones in lives through controlling them. This implies that the people are being accustomed to digesting useless knowledge that are expected of them to know as the government craves trust and support from its people. This insinuates the fact the people then lost their capacity to understand information based on their own critical understanding as they are hegemonised. This shows that the majority of the people are submissive as they do not know that they are actually living in misery due to their undeveloped minds. This suggests that chaos is definite because people would not have moral obligations to do what is right as they do not even have control in whatever they are performing. This suggests that destruction of their human rights is in play. This implies that anyone has the capability to cause harm in the society, causing the destruction of many lives, just by the mere feasibility of the government instructing them to do so. This shows that basically, everyone is in proximity of danger if they were to go against the says of the government. Furthermore, Guy Montag claimed ‘There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing (Bradbury 48).’ This suggests that the obliteration of knowledge comes together with the devaluation of human life. This implies that the form of comprehension to human life is so valuable that humans would rather sacrifice their lives than to live without knowledge. This insinuates the means that the notability of knowledge is very significant, hence, it being taken away brings the end of life. This shows that the destruction of knowledge leads to the degradation of value to life, hence, lives are lost. This amplifies the idea that society cannot live without knowledge. Therefore, the destruction of life occur. This shows that fatal impacts happen as Fahrenheit 451 is a world engulfed in destruction.
These factors show that the power humanity is being forsaken in this world and therefore, the world started to fall apart as devastating harm befall the people subsequently, leading to ultimate destruction to the whole society. This evidently shows that morale and value that was not respected and inculcated in the society has demolished the world with great irreparable damage.
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