“It doesn’t matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away”

– R. B.

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of fireman Guy Montag, whose occupation is to burn books. In this rather dystopian novel, the written word is illegal; books are a sin, a crime & forbidden. It becomes the duty of individuals like Guy to rid society of the poison that spreads by one’s indulgence in literature. One sees the mundane in Guy’s life, from his lacklustre interest in being a fireman to his marriage with his wife, Mildred. That is until he is introduced to Clarisse, a symbol of hope for a world that is filled to the brim with story-telling & lesson learning. As the story goes on, Guy’s character transforms from a servant to the community to a freethinking being. Gaining strength is what pushes Guy to hide from his co-workers the very truth that he knows full well could destroy the life he has built for himself thus far.

The story reads like The Alchemist, a book that I have picked up on & off in the last couple of years. I feel that Ray succeeds in delivering a reminder of the power that comes with reading, so much so that characters in the book pledge that even:

"a little learning is a dangerous thing"

Presently, if I was ever asked the question, “Alive or perhaps not, who would you like to have met?”, it would be Ray Bradbury. I would have loved to have asked more about his personal life (being the eager weirdo that I love to be!) & would have enjoyed to learn more about his personal inspirations behind his esteemed literary vocation.

Voracious reader or not, I feel like Ray’s encouragement of thinking for oneself & doing that which makes one’s heart truly happy can speak to & impact anyone. The complex vocabulary interwoven into the elaborate plot may occasionally make you falter but very quickly catches you again & refuses to leave you be, this I swear.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✑