Similarities Between Harrison Bergeron And Fahrenheit 451

Words: 1416
Pages: 6

Despite the patriotism and nationalism constantly encouraged in the United States, our society is far from perfect, and science fiction is just one genre that commentates on its imperfections. Science fiction is a type of literature that creates a dystopian society to emphasize the flaws expected to turn into larger issues down the road. Two examples of dystopian societies can be examined in the novels, “Fahrenheit 451,” and “Harrison Bergeron.” Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury is about a society consumed with every possible form of technology. The people ignore one another and find a family in their fascinating trinkets, very similar to ou pr society, however, a bit more extreme. Most people neglect knowledge and it is against the law to …show more content…
Firstly, the text Fahrenheit 451 is a clear example of an author prevailing a significant message to its readers, especially about our world as a whole. Specifically, Ray Bradbury recognizes that technology does not always have positive effects on our society, and if not handled with care, can have negative consequences. Despite the carefree attitude of many of the characters in the Fahrenheit 451 book, many show discomfort in the society and feel as though they are outcasts. Not only has technology overtaken the walls of each individual's home, but it has also taken over many people's minds as well. These so called “outcasts” aid readers in recognizing the everlasting effects of television, radios, technological communication, etc., and what the lack of knowledge can actually do to people. What Ray Bradbury is trying to convey by supposedly placing this setting around a current time period is that with all of this fascination and involvement with technology, our society will eventually become so consumed with the gadgets that it ignores factual information and knowledge. Essentially, the people will become mindless drones. …show more content…
The authors commentary throughout the book demonstrates that equality is not as important as individuality. Both Fahrenheit 541, and the Harrison Bergeron book emphasize simplistic lives and how many people prefer to be ignorant and happy as oppose to aware and upset. The authors of these texts use theme to develop an idea far beyond most of the characters thought capacity, displaying the negative effects to each dystopian society, that exactly relates to our current world. People are too focused on the bitterness that jealousy leads to, that they are not willing to accept that many people actually benefit from the competition aspect that helps them achieve their goals. One example of the harsh injustices the government has inflicted on the citizens is shown on page two of the text when we hear an observation from one of the main characters on the equality in their society. He claims, “He tried to think a little about the ballerinas. They weren't really very good-no better than anybody else would have been, anyway. They were burdened with sash weights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.” The authors message here is that people spend so much time attempting to please minorities, that eventually, the only solution