Dystopian World of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

Abstract

Ray Bradbury explores in his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (henceforth F451), the destructive side of technology and totalitarianism, which can deny individuals of their basic rights. This article gives a critical, contextual analysis of F451(1953) by Ray Bradbury. It investigates the dystopian elements to show how an authoritarian government projected in the novel that blocks mind and awareness. The protagonist of the novel is Guy Montag who takes a key role in revealing the tyrannical system and the potential consequences of disobedience. This article examines the manipulation and control of the state and its ill use of technology and its banning of books to shackle knowledge and mind. However, this article aims to show the effect of autobiographical elements, McCarthyism's censorship and the fear of communism during the postwar era and their effects on writing the novel. It also shows how in this dystopian world, an oppressive government is not successful in controlling all citizens. There are opposing characters whose consciousness is awakened and they are successful to show the failure of the system although they are becoming lonely outsiders by that system. The literature review has paved the way by providing the theoretical basis for the analysis of the novel. Thus, this short study sheds the light on how the totalitarian state affects Montag’s change, but it is demonstrating the dystopian world of the novel.