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Understanding the Context for Fahrenheit 451

Understanding the Context for Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. Born 1920 in Illinois Moved to Los Angeles when 13; he fell in love with Hollywood Written hundreds of short stories and a number of novels, poems, plays, screenplays, musicals, and operas. Ray Bradbury.

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Understanding the Context for Fahrenheit 451

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  1. Understanding the Context for Fahrenheit 451

  2. Ray Bradbury • Born 1920 in Illinois • Moved to Los Angeles when 13; he fell in love with Hollywood • Written hundreds of short stories and a number of novels, poems, plays, screenplays, musicals, and operas

  3. Ray Bradbury • Hosted his own television show “The Ray Bradbury Theater” • Astronauts named crater on moon after his story “Dandelion Wine”

  4. Ray Bradbury • Often called the “world’s greatest science fiction writer” • Warns against becoming so dependent and “worshipful” of technology • Writing concerns the negative effects technology has on human nature

  5. Ray Bradbury • Once said automobile was one of the biggest destructors of man and nature – refused to drive • Often stopped and harassed by police for walking (incident that occurs in his later writings)

  6. Historical Background • Published in 1953 • TV just appearing in American homes • Small, B & W, distorted, 3 channels (NBC, ABC, CBS) • Soon focal point of family life • TV’s effects on family is theme in F451

  7. Historical Background • 1950’s = time of conformity • Suburbs created • “keeping up with the Joneses”

  8. Historical Background • Senator McCarthy and the House of Un-American Activities Committee • Accused, prosecuted, and jailed people they felt were Communists or Un-American • Writers, movie producers, actors were often accused

  9. Historical Background • Women were mothers and homemakers • Happy about it • Loyal followers of “soaps” • Named after the soap companies who produced the shows

  10. Contemporary Context • Many of the predictions Bradbury made in F451 have come true today: • Divorce and abortion are commonplace • Infants sent to daycare after 6 weeks • One of most popular presidents was a movie star

  11. Contemporary Context • Many of the predictions Bradbury made in F451 have come true today: • Suicide rate, especially with teens, increasing • Kids dying due to car wrecks, gangs, and drugs

  12. Contemporary Context • Many of the predictions Bradbury made in F451 have come true today: • Growing addiction to TV, video games, and other “mindless” fun • Tabloids and sex magazines are best sellers

  13. Contemporary Context • Many of the predictions Bradbury made in F451 have come true today: • Image of an apathetic citizenry lulled to indifference by incessant electronic noise is no longer just a vision

  14. Contemporary Context • Many of the predictions Bradbury made in F451 have come true today: • “earshell radios” = I-Pods • Wall-mounted flat screens TV’s • Anti-depressant pills more common and commercialized

  15. Contemporary Context • Many of the predictions Bradbury made in F451 have come true today: • Book still burned (Harry Potter, Holy Bible…) • Live broadcast of police chasing fugitives • Government censorship of information

  16. Exposition of F451 • Setting: 24th Century; world on brink of war • Characters: • Guy Montag (fireman) • Clarisse (teenage neighbor) • Mildred (Montag’s wife) • Beatty (Fire Chief) • Montag loves his job and thinks only of it until Clarisse asks him a question: “Are you happy?”

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