The Dangers of Ignorance: A Study of Dystopia and Postmodernist Perspective of Ray Bradbury’s Novel Fahrenheit 451

Abstract

Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 primarily presents a postmodernist view. It was published in 1953, and this novel is divided into three parts: The Hearth and the Salamander, The Sieve and the Sand, and Burning Bright. The first part of the book dealt with the fireplace and burning things down. It is a symbol of death. Guy Montag is the protagonist of the novel, and his work is to burn the unnamed US city. The second part, titled "Sieve and Sand," refers to Montag’s childhood memory, and he is trying to read the Bible on the subway rather than burn books. The third part is about burning books. The symbol of fire denotes the idea of strength, power, and destruction in society. The firefighters used to put out the fire. The concept of fire symbolized limiting people's freedom, destroying knowledge, and destroying society.