English Question 2: Fahrenheit 451

Are there any current situations in the world that relate to the novel? What are they, and how do they relate? Does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved or "fixed"?

I think that the age of technology, and the age of ‘feelings’ relates to this novel.

When I say ‘age of technology’ I am referring to the advance in science, medicines, and electronics. In this book, it was about making life easy, and although I think that advance is good, and most certainly helpful, it has it’s drawbacks too. Many people become very reliant on their computers or television to deal with the stresses of life, and it can be very harmful. A good example of this is when Mildred cared more about her ‘family’ than her husband or anything else in life.

Now, when I say ‘age of feelings’ I am referring to the fact that many people don’t want to say or do anything that would cause hurt or strife with other people. (e.g. When Guy read that poem to one of Mildred’s friend, her friend became increasingly upset as the poem progressed, thus the result of her in tears.) It’s not bad to consider other people’s feelings in a matter, but often enough it goes too far, and then we have some problems. We find ourselves perhaps unintentionally disguising the truth for a happier and less stressful explanation. That’s where the books come in. They are an expression of free will, and that makes people think that perhaps there are ideas out there that may conflict with their happy world.

I think that the clear message that the novel is trying to get across is ‘don’t let yourself and your thoughts be compromised to the world. Be unique, don’t follow the crowd. Don’t settle for second best; find out the truth even if it hurts.’ I would say the novel is hinting that we are the problem, and that we need to keep our thoughts and creativity alive to avoid that kind of situation.

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This movie can demonstrate the advancement of technology. In the chorus of this song, they repeat this phrase: These are extreme, extreme days We're living, We're living, We're living in extreme days. This particular quote from this song demonstrates both the good and bad side of technology. The wanting of solo enhancement brought about a replacement of arms and legs with bionic arms and legs. Which therefore brought about the assassin being hired to kill him(a.k.a. the man with solo enhancement). As you listen to the lyrics, ask yourself this question: How we can avoid the 'extreme days' in Fahrenheit 451, and help 'fix' what 'extreme days' exist in our world today?

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/pcolford/images/technology_2.jpg

http://meanderings.typepad.com/meanderings/images/feelings.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DavgYNk6Oc