“A state that suppresses all freedom of speech, and which by imposing the most terrible punishments, treats each and every attempt at criticism, however morally justified, and every suggestion for improvement as plotting to high treason, is a state that breaks an unwritten law."
-Kurt Huber, member of the White Rose
The destruction of books by the government in Fahrenheit 451 restricted the society's access to information and obliterated opposition to the government. In addition, the lives of citizens were saturated by media, which, with repetition, forced ideas into their heads and distracted them from the real problems of their society. The government eliminated differing opinions, much like the Nazi government in World War II: "Coloured people don't like Little Black Sambo. Burn it. White people don't feel good about Uncle Tom's Cabin. Burn it. Someone's written a book on tobacco and cancer of the lungs? The cigarette people are weeping? Burn the book." (Bradbury, 57). The eradication of contradictory beliefs let the government dictate everything the people saw: “If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none" (Bradbury, 58). The government destroyed any books it found and jailed, silenced or killed those who opposed them. The woman who refused to leave her home as it burned is an example of a conscientious objectors who was killed for having books and independent ideas. With the control of information, the government in Fahrenheit 451 was able to manipulate people through the messages they sent that filled the radios and televised parlor walls.
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The people of Fahrenheit 451 were surrounded by a media that said very little, but distracted people from important issues. The constant stream of media everywhere, on billboards, on the radio, on parlor walls, and in sea shells, gradually brainwashed most citizens into compliance with the corporations and government's needs, "The people were pounded into submission;" [by the media and restriction of freedom of speech] "they did not run, there was no place to run..." (Bradbury, 75). The same useless messages were repeated over and over, and as Joseph Goebells, Minister of Propaganda in the Third Reich explained, “The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.” These messages worked into the minds of the people, made them indifferent to important conflicts and politics in their world. Mildred and her friends were deeply under the spell of media, and did not care about much other than their parlor walls. Mrs. Phelps, for example, did not seem to care about her own husband heading off to war. "'When do you suppose the war will start?' he said. 'I notice your husbands aren't here tonight?' 'Oh, they come and go, come and go,' said Mrs. Phelps...'I'm not worried,' said Mrs. Phelps. 'I'll let Pete do all the worrying.' She giggled....'Anyway, Pete and I always said, no tears, nothing like that. It's our third marriage each and we're independent. Be independent, we always said. He said, if I get killed off, you just go right ahead and don't cry, but get married again, and don't think of me.' 'That reminds me,' said Mildred. 'Did you see that Clara Dove five-minute romance last night in your wall? Well, it was all about this woman who..." (Bradbury, 91). Mrs. Phelps was perfectly content to forget her husband, and was not concerned about the war her country seemed to be entering. She only cared about the parlor program. Farenheit 451 shows us that when a society does not care about major issues, is constantly exposed to a controlled media, and in which opposition is silenced, mass manipulation thrives. Any message that the government wants to deliver can be delivered quickly, and repeated over and over. Whatever the government presents as truth, like the "48 Hour War" Mrs. Phelps discussed, is believed because there is no opposition. The censored lives of most citizens in Fahrenheit 451 are controlled and determined by the will of the government.
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