Post 10, prompt 5

The part that moved me the most was when Montag was burning someone's house because of her books. The woman decides to stay with her books and burns with them. This was shocking to me. I have always valued human life over all else. It really showed that people who have little will do anything to keep what they have. It also showed the extreme pressure put on people who read books illegally.

Post 9, prompt 17

This book uses a lot of symbols. The government used mechanical hounds to search for and take down fugitives. As a society they largely ignore nature and favor technology. I find it ironic that they name their creations after creatures they do not even like. The phoenix is another symbol in the book. The bird burns itself when it dies and is reborn from the ashes. one of the characters from the book compares the phoenix to mankind after the nuclear strikes that destroy the city. They plan on going out and helping the survivors then rebuilding a better society.

Post 8, promt 4

The death of Clarisse McClellan surprised me the most. She was the one who opened Montag's eyes to what he is missing and what he is doing. Her death reminded me of when Luke lost his master in Star Wars. I think they both died for the same reason too. The main character has to face his challenges without the help of someone who already knows the answers to build character. Still, her death came as a shock to me.

Post 7, prompt 11

The author commonly used contradicting statements and ironic tones. This helps to farther the book's lessons and made it more enjoyable to me. The contradicting statements felt right at home with the atmosphere created. The government censors books and employs people to burn them but Beatty, head of the firemen, used to read books himself. That along with irony shows that any one who wants to stop the spread of knowledge does not have your well being in mind.

Post 6, promt 10

I made connections to each of the main characters. I connected them to people I know in my life based on their traits and how the act. Montag is ike one of my best friends. They both are confused about how society works and their place in it. My friend got betrayed by his ex girlfriend much like Montag was by his wife. Faber seems to be like a lot of grown ups in my life. He knows what to do and how to do it but sfear keeps him from doing it. People do not want to lose what they have for a chance to get something better. Beatty is contradictory. Like another one of my friends, he says one thing and does another while beleiveing in both. He seems to feel sorry for what he has done after it all though. The characters in this book relate to many people I know and that helps to understand what they go through.

Post 5, promt 3

Something I noticed about most of the characters was that they did not have strong feelings towards each other. They seemed to be just shells of people. Montag's own wife called the fire company on her own house because Montag started hiding books. The people in this story do not have strong enough relationships to prevent them from turning on eachother quickely. They acted the way they thought they should without thinking for themselves. Montag's change was also clunky. Without a childhood of reading, his books were confusing to him. He also took his first book for himself without knowing why.

Post 4, promt 2

One part that puzzled me was that Montag's superior used to read books. How can you go from loving to read books to helping destroy them all. He tells Montag that it is because the books are contradictory but that does not feel like a good enough reason to me. I feel that he was just frustrated by different points of view. I also feel like Beatty, Montag's boss, wanted to die. I think that he was pushing Montag to do it because he was so split over the issue. However, he could of just of underestimated Montag. That is where I am confused. It never clearly tells the reader which it really is but I guess that is for the reader to decide.

Post 3, promt 9

1- Why were most of the people unwilling to stand up for their rights?

I don't think they knew or they just did not care and the ones that did know (Faber) were too afraid to do anything about it.

2- Is the same ending inevitable in human society, with or without censorship?

I want to say that we do not have to always follow the same cycle but every society in the past will prove me wrong.

3- How would the author include the internet if he rewrote it knowing where society is today?

I think the internet would just be censored similarly to what China does. The only censor parts that they do not like.

4- How come Montag did not have any friends that helped him through his journey like in most stories?



5- For a book with a pretty bleak outlook, why the positive ending?

Humans need something to look forward to or something to work towards. It is just how we are. The hope of rebuilding a better society gave us that dream we all need.

Post 2, promt 18

While the obvious answer to this prompt is that books burn at 451 Fahrenheit, I think it goes deeper. It is not common knowledge that books burn at that temperature. Perhaps Ray Bradbury started one of the themes of the book with the title. The citizens in the story do not read and are always watching TV. Since they never read they are not too knowledgeable and would not know about that special temperature even if it was well known. The title is effective at getting attention as well. You wonder what the significance of 451 is instantly. I would not rename the book if given a chance. I think there is no better title for it.

Post 1, promt 1

I really like Fahrenheit 451 which is rare for me. Normally I dread reading books for school but this time it was different. This book, published in 1953, holds perhaps more meaning now then ever before. Overlaying themes such as censorship, political correctness, and free thinking hold much value in today's society. One thing I found interesting was that most people in the book did not care about the censorship. In a world where every other show on television depicts a future with flying cars and a disease free environment, it is refreshing to read a story that is so down to earth. The author wanted to show how mass media and the television are destroying our culture and I believe he is right. Even looking at myself after reading this book. I would much rather watch a season of a half decent show then read a great book. Even as I type this I have headphones on listening to my music, something Bradbury surely finds laughable. I think people in my generation have so much information in their heads but almost no knowledge. I would highly recommend this story to everyone. You will find connections to your life and experience a great, filling story.

The assignment

I'll be starting a new segment on my blog today. It is my independent reading project. I will be posting about my book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. You can expect all ten of these posts to be within the next 24 hours due to my procrastination!

Do Later

If you were going to traveling through Peru, how would you want to do it? Would you travel similarly to Che or would you prefer a more stable form of transportation?

Che wanted to help the poor. His impact was that he completely changed Cuba and became a symbol of hope for those in bad living conditions.

Glaciers to volcanoes, South America's finest.

chile

I think the thing that changed Che the most in Chile is all the poor people he saw. Chile was going through a rough time and the people had low living conditions. This might influence him to want to fight to make life better for everyone, especially the poor.