In Chapter 13 of Section 1, Guy Montag is faking sick to avoid his fireman job, as his new outlook of life makes him hate his job of burning books, which are illegal in this new world. He is visited by his boss, Captain Beatty, who suspects him of wavering his loyalty to his job.

However, instead of reprimanding and punishing Guy, Beatty instead gives him a history lesson on why their job is important and beneficial to society. First, he talks about the rise of mass media and how books fell out of popularity in the general population. Next, he talks about the negative effects of books and how they caused life to not be all perfect, but to be confusing and divided, especially between minorities. This caused books to be banned gradually with very little resistance as everyone is brainwashed.

Before leaving, Beatty admits to being a reader himself until he changed, and urges Guy to turn in any potential books he might have hidden, all the while Beatty is trying to hide the book he stole from the old lady,

It is a must read as a lot of themes in this book are very relevant in todays’s landscape, and how the digitisation of information spearheaded by The Web can easily get out of hand and consume our lives. Ray Bradbury’s vocabulary, while hard to comprehend, is very fruitful and provides a plethora of deeper meanings that connect to todays societal ideals, even though it was written and published in 1953.

The characters, plot and storyline are very well thought out, each representing a core aspect of the book while also having unique personalities. The tone of the book is sombre yet inspiring, a perfect read for someone who wants something educational yet thrilling.

Overall, Fahrenheit 451 is a must read as the core themes of the book become increasingly relevant today.

Dear Montag,

I hope you’ve taken my visitation to heart yesterday. I know how hard it is to control your urges to find out what we are burning, but remember: it’s for the greater good! I admit, i’ve had a phase like that, where i’ve wanted to know everything. Montag, it didn’t end well for me. I felt confused, enraged with all the sounds; Bang, Wallop, Whoosh, Ding, Slam, its all slop and divides minorities. We don’t want a divided society, do we Montag? I hope to see you at the office tomorrow at 9:00AM.

Kind Regards,

Beatty

Letter 2: Guy Montag

Beatty,

I think you’re sorely mistaken. I do admit, I have kept a plethora of books hidden, and I have read plenty. Ever since iv’e started reading, i’ve felt happier, fulfilled. This job oppresses the human mind and turns people into mindless drones!

I cannot stand it anymore, which is why I write with a sombre tone to tend my resignation, effective immediately. You can burn down my house all you want, I am gone to God knows where by the time you receive this. I hope you change your stance on books, as I will surely not.

Good riddance Beatty,

-Guy Montag

'It was a special pleasure... turned dark with burning'

First, the authors use of visual imagery in, '...to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.' emphasizes to the audience the effect of something to an object. Here, the word eaten connotates ideas of an object being denatured and/or broken down permanently with no way to restore said object back to it original shape. The phrase 'to see things' helps draw the audience's attention to what is happening to the object. This shows that the object, which is a book, is being vigorously burnt and changed.

Next, the authors use of a metaphor in, '...brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python...' compares his brass nozzle to be similar characteristically to a python. A python is a venomous animal that poisons anything that crosses paths with it, while in this paragraph, a brass nozzle is used to spit out fire. This metaphor compares the two things by inferring that they are both one and the same as they essentially destroy anything that crosses paths with them.

Lastly, the author's use of syndetic listing in, '...burned the evening sky red and yellow and black.' helps paint in image in the audience's minds of the setting. Red and black skies connotate that the setting is dangerous and bleak and hazardous, such as a warzone. Additionally, fire burns in shades of red and yellow and ash fills the sky in a black hue, which shows indirectly that the sky has changed due to the fire.

Interviewer - Jim Jordan

Interviewee - Ray Bradbury

Start

Jim: Alright, Ray, nice to have you here for NBC Nightly News. Your book, Fahrenheit 451, is still a bestseller here after 40 years. Do you have a theory why so?

Ray: Absolutely. I feel that as our society becomes more technologically dependent and mass media, the less we in general care about literature. Those main these of the book: Manipulation, Dependence, Freedom, Knowledge. They become increasingly more relevant in our volatile world of today. Im glad I wrote this book all these years ago; it acts as a sort of lens into the future. Additionally, the government spoon feeding us entertainment today is eerily similar to the events that lead to the setting of my book.

Jim: I completely agree with you about how this book becomes increasingly relevant. When you initially wrote this book, what factors present in 1953 made you write this?

Ray: Well in 1953, as you know, the Cold War is reaching its peak. In America even, Joseph McCarthy was cenoring certain element due to the supposed fear of the Reds. The Refs themselves were having another purge, burning books that didnt align with the Hardline Stalinist policies. In WWII not even a decade ago, Nazis burned everything that dare questioned their ideology. I wrote this book to warn anyone that read it of the world in the future if we continue this path.

Jim: Wow. That is amazing. The fact that you wrote this, knowing that you might face reprucussions.

Ray: And I have. Numerous schools in The States themselves have banned the book, citing the book to be inappropriate. And this, this is what exactly leads to a dystopia where books are contraband.

Jim: Truly sad, and I agree with all your viewpoints. Thank you for coming to NBC Nightly News.

Ray: As do I for inviting me. Good Night.