(LiE)_ Censorship in Fahrenheit 451 (1)

@p0stc4rds_Literature in English Censorship in Fahrenheit451___ Prose Author’s Intent ● Sends a very direct message showing readers what can happen if they allow thegovernment to take control of the media● Expresses concerns that mass media has the ability tosuppress free speech to the same extent as a tolitarian regime● By showing the systematic destruction of books, we are givenan extreme depiction of censorship as a cautionary tale● Through his depiction of the banning of books and the misinformation spread by thegovernment, he attempts to criticize censorship’s effects on society Effect of Censorship on Society● Decreased trust between people○ Why: By the government’s harsh restrictions, people are motivated to reporteach other to the government○ How: The old woman who burned herself and her books was reported by herneighbours, Montag was reported by his wife○ So what: Bad because people have shallow and transactional relationships,less focused on peaceful coexistence and collaborating with our fellow manand more focused on selfishness and self-preservation● Self-censorship○ Why: The government’s enforcement of censorship has strengthenedsociety’s aversion to books

○ How: The way society does not talk/cannot talk about sensitive or morenegative topics○ So what: Bad because people cannot fully express themselves and aretherefore sadder● Desensitization of violence○ Why: Limited intellectual stimulation provided + people are more isolatedfrom each other -> lower significance of a humanlife○ How: The teenagers who ‘kill each other’, theway Mildred has run over animals with noremorse○ So what: If people are more desensitized toviolenced, they are more likely to cause harm to others in society in pursuit ofselfish thrills and would be more blase to humans in general● The “dumbing down” of society○ Why: Media being overly simplified + Government having a heavy hand inwhat the citizens view have caused a decrease in critical thinking○ How: The government’s view of giving sides to an argument (‘Better yet, givehim none.’),○ So what: People only know what they are told by the government and thuslack the critical thinking and knowledge to know if what the governmentwants is truly the best thing for them● The apathy of people to emotion○ Why: Censorship was put into place to make people happy, and therefore lackthe knowledge on how to deal with negative emotions○ How: ‘Come on, let’s be cheery , you turn the family on, n0w.’ (Mildred) ->her response to negative emotion is immediately shifting it to another topic,ignoring the problem instead of fixing it, Montag’s lack of reaction to theviolence occurring in Clarisse’s life○ So what: When people are less open to feeling emotions, their lives becomemore shallow and their relationships with other less meaningful which cancause a less cohesive society with looser morals and values

Views on Censorship● Beatty: Harmony between people (/pos)○ ‘You must understand that our civilization that we can’t have our minori