Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury

Learning Goals and Objectives I am learning… To understand biographical info about Ray Bradbury To understand the historical context from which an author writes »The Cold War »McCarthyism »Communism To understand the characteristics of the genre of science fiction and satire To understand the effects of censorship

Ray Bradbury… Born in Waukegan, Illinois in 1922 By age 11 he was writing stories on butcher paper Family moved a lot Born in Illinois  graduated from a high school in Los Angeles Studied and wrote independently –Sold newspapers on street corners for $

Science Fiction Writing Primarily known as a sci-fi writer Science fiction writing: Form of fiction that draws imaginatively scientific knowledge and speculation in its plot, theme, setting, etc. 1950, The Martian Chronicles Establishes Bradbury as leading sci-fi writer 1950—began writing what was to become Fahrenheit 451 »Pay-by-the-hour typewriters at UCLA’s library

Context for writing the novel… The Firemen Shorter draft of the novel Finished it in 9 days George Orwell’s 1984 Written in 1949 Portrays horrors of a totalitarian gov’t Dystopia: Shows the worst human society imaginable Dawn of the nuclear age Before the TV had become a fixture in the family home Orwell’s vision of a post-atomic dictatorship where people were monitored ceaselessly by the “telescreen,” seemed terrifyingly possible

On the shoulders of giants: Other important works of the time Alduous Huxley’s Brave New World –1932 –Pitfalls using science, technology, politics –Prophesized major struggles in the 2 nd half of the 20 th century and continue into the 21 st century »1933—Hitler came to power »1938—WWII »August 6, 1945—Atomic Bomb

Question: Knowledge What impact did Huxley and Orwell have on Bradbury’s writing? A.) no impact B.) Bradbury recognized their fears and wanted to demonstrate dangers of a dystopia C.) Bradbury wanted to also demonstrate the horrors of a totalitarian gov’t D.) both B and C

What is Satire? Genre of Sci-fi and SATIRE Definition: –Writing that exposes and ridicules the vices or follies of people or societies. (Making fun of serious things.) Written in 1953 as a response to current controversies of the time… –Cold War/WWII –McCarthyism

What was the Cold War? Definition: –Ideological and economic struggle after WWII Between what countries? –US and allies vs. Soviet Union and allies How long did it last? –1947  all the way until December, 31, 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union

Why was it called the “Cold War?” Was it really a war? NO…not a war Arms race involving Nuclear and conventional weapons (radioactive weapons, atomic bomb) Networks of military alliances (who’s on my side?) Economic warfare (capturing economic resources in order to deprive the enemy)

Cold War continued… Trade embargos (prohibits trade with a country in order to place strain on that country’s internal government and makes economy suffer) –1973 Oil Crisis (Arab countries and US petroleum) Propaganda Espionage (“spy”) Space Race (artificial satellites, humans into space, people on moon) –Sputnik, Oct. 4, 1957 –Caught the West by surprise

Question: Comprehension How would you summarize the Cold War? A.) a real war b/w Soviet Union and US B.) an arms race b/w Soviet Union and US for conventional and nuclear weapons; space race; propaganda, etc. C.) war where US and Soviet U. ganged up on England and took nuclear weapons D.) none of the above

What is McCarthyism? A period of intense anti-Communistic suspicion in the US. Late 1940s to late 1950s What is Communism? –Classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. Everyone had equal means.

Communism in the US? Senator Joseph McCarthy –People were accused of being communists –Communist sympathizers –Led to suppression of info and propagation of falsehood and fear—BOOK BURNING Targets: –Gov’t employees –Entertainment business –Union activists –Educators! Teachers!

Question: Application What would result if America was a communist country?

What does the Cold War and McCarthyism have to do with F451? Both the Cold War and McCarthyism/ communism represented “the ideal”. Ideal what? –Ideal societies –Ideal government –Ideal philosophies –Ideal social F451 warns that control can come under the guise of fulfilling ideals…

Fahrenheit 451…What’s it all about? Set in the future (unspecified time) Government celebrates anti-intellectualism What is “anti-intellectualism?” Therefore—book burning! ***CENSORSHIP*** Why would the government and the citizens of a country ever condone book burning? Knowledge=Power, Imagination, Cultural Heritage, History, Future, etc.

Question: Analysis How are McCarthyism and the Cold War related to the society in Fahrenheit 451?

Book Burning in other societies…how did it effect them? Hitler and Nazi Germany 1933—huge book burning in Germany WHY? Wanted to spread German nationalism Opposed ideas/freedoms that certain books stood for Red Guard of China Group of Chinese students who gathered and burned books Books that went against: Social Political Religious Ideological views

Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses Controversial book which spawned heavy repercussions Published in 1988 Upset Muslim community b/c they believed it contained blasphemous material about Muhammad India was first country to ban the book Supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah, called for the death of Rushdie

Salman Rushdie continued… February 14, 1989 broadcasted following message on Iranian radio: “I inform the proud Muslim people of the world that the author of the Satanic Verses book, which is against Islam, the Prophet and Qur’an, and all those involved in its publication who are aware of its content are sentenced to death.”

Rushdie July 1991—Japanese translator stabbed to death Same month—Italian translator injured but not killed October 1993—Norwegian publisher survived attempted assassination in Oslo FEBRUARY 14, 2006—Iranian state news agency reported that the fatwa would remain in place permanently.

What effect does book burning have on the society in F451? Forces people to focus on materialism for fulfillment Produces “mindless happiness”  –A world where no one thinks for themselves –Essentially told what to think, what to do, how to act –Gov’t is a totalitarian one The novel gives a strong warning about mistaking “mindless happiness and slavish social conformity” for ‘progress.’

The American Dream Turns into a nightmare –Superficially understood Instead of freedom, success, truth, imagination and knowledge, we have the small-mindedness of the majority Majority thought=THE BIG PROBLEM in Fahrenheit 451 Destroy knowledge; promote sameness and equalization

Elements of Fahrenheit 451 THEMES:  Censorship  Knowledge Vs. Ignorance