Fahrenheit 451: Dystopian novel

Fahrenheit 451 is a book written by Ray Bradbury, published in 1953. This is very significant Dystopian novel. The story is unusual with mystery elements. We cannot decode the meaning with one reading. However it is highly symbolical work, which presents the reality of society.
The title itself is symbolic which means any book will burn automatically in the temperature of 451 Fahrenheit. The protagonist Montag is doing job of a fireman who used to burn the books, but he wants to know about books that what harm these books cause. Therefore he used to hide books in the ceiling of his room. Later on when his hidden books comes out in front of his wife, she orders him to burn. But Montag refuses to do that. Beatty is a boss of Montag and main antagonist of the novel. He also forced Montag to burn his house where he kept book. Mildred, the wife of Montag thinks that books are the cause of worry, it has no value and always brings suffering.

Historical background

There is historical background behind the book burning incident of the novel. Book burning begins in May 10, 1933. The book burning stood as powerful symbol of Nazi intolerance and censorship. The students create a blacklist of books written by Bertolt Brecht, Earnest Hemingway, Erich that were to be thrown into the flames. It is a way of suppressing dissenting ideas.With the idea of this event Fahrenheit 451 is written.

Dover Beach

There is one incident of reciting Dover beach (Matthew Arnold) by the protagonist Montag in the story to know about its effect but it cause Mrs Phelps to cry and therefore he burns that book. Dover beach  is about the conflict of science and religion. This work ended with sadness and loneliness stating that there is no joy or love.

Various interpretations

This novel can be interpret in many ways, one among those is the rise to mass media. With the development in technology, students reduces likeness of reading books and remains on mobile all the time. It cannot be taken into another way that students are spoiling their future, however student are learning online. There is idea of e-book which helps to carry any book in pocket. We can read it any time. Therefore there is no need of hard copy if we have soft copy (It burns the idea of hard copy).
The another way of interpreting story is don't judge anything without fact checking means, even the character of the story didn't burn the book without knowing its harm. He has keen desire to know that whatever books he has picked up from the burning place, whether it carries any meaning or not.

Mystery

This is mystical novel because there is sudden death of woman who burns herself because she never wants to live her house and her books. This generates curiosity in the mind of Montag that what was there in the book which makes people unable to detach from it and ready to commit suicide inspite of leaving books. There is sudden missing of the neighbour of protagonist who used to communicate everyday with him. The answers which Montag gets for her missing also unreliable.