Fahrenheit 451 Dialetical Journal

1. Fahrenheit 451DialeticalJournal Entry Examples

2. Social Commentary on a global or modern issue • “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.” (pg 3 The Hearth and the Salamander) • From a Judeo-Christian perspective (which is the historical heritage of our American culture), God created man in His image. He gave man a purpose: tending the Earth and procreating. Both tasks represent nurturing and creation. In 451, the reverse is true. Guy Montag’s job is to destroy. I suppose it is a benefit to him that he ENJOYS this task. Ray Bradbury recognizes how much society has changed since original man. When this novel was written, humanity had just witnessed the most destructive war of all time. The dropping of two atomic bombs was celebrated by most as the “lesser of two evils” and reviled by some. Nevertheless, this horrible weapon of destruction must have been in the back of Bradbury’s mind as he penned 451and created a society that celebrates destruction.

3. Anecdotal Commentary • “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.” (pg 3 The Hearth and the Salamander) • I can relate to Montag. Who doesn’t enjoy sticking an item in flames and watching it change? Even as an adult I enjoy roasting marshmallows and hot dogs over a campfire. I also admit to sticking in various items and watching how they change: tin cans, sticks, leaves, a sock, plastic… One summer while I was a counselor at a camp in the U.P., a camper set our whole stock of firewood on fire. It quietly burned down throughout the night without staff’s knowledge. (Nor did any camper wake us up to warn us. I think they were all afraid of being punished.) The camper clearly got a sense of pleasure over his feat; however, the staff just looked at it as a whole bunch of extra work chopping new wood. However, I wish I could have seen it. Must have been a spectacular fire since the stack was about 10 feet long and 5 feet high.

4. Evidence of dystopian literature characteristic • “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.” (pg 3 The Hearth and the Salamander) • This hook sets a sinister tone. Pleasure is a strong word for burning. Usually I associate good feelings with creation over destruction. If this society is one that celebrates destruction over creation, then certainly this belief would be an example of dystopia. We find out that our protagonist is a fireman who BURNS things instead of putting fire out. That’s the exact opposite of our society. There may be an illusion of perfection projected, however this is an evident flaw.

5. Evidence of something relevant to me • “Of course,” he said, “you’re our new neighbor, aren’t you?” (6) The Hearth and the Salamander • Ah, yes! This simple line rings volumes to one who has lived in 6 different houses during childhood. Moving was always sad for we were loathe to leave the friends we made, but thankfully as a middle child this challenge was mitigated since I always had my siblings with me. They served as companions and playmates. It helped that with each move we were greeted by friendly neighbors, though not in the middle of the night like how Montag meets Clarisse.

6. Evidence on how technology helps society • “He walked out of the fire station and along the midnight street toward the subway where the silent air-propelled train slid soundlessly down its lubricated flue in the earth and let him out.: (4 The Hearth and Salamander) • This routine part of Montag’s life almost gets glazed over but the subway is a clear example of how technology has improved society. This mass transportation system is faster than walking or driving, it’s greener for the environment as it keeps potentially hundreds or thousands of fossil fuel burning cars off the roads. It’s also more economical and efficient than other modes of transportation.