Burn After Reading
It was the Golden Age of Television when Ray Bradbury penned the draft of "Fahrenheit 451". The Cold War was also about to reach its height, after the Berlin Wall was erected. The story about American society forbidding any form of reading might prompt some readers to call it a dystopian novel. A fine one, as his fans would call it. But Guy Montag's saga was ambiguous at its best.
"It was a pleasure to burn."
Guy was tasked to burn books. Who needed written works, as the loud sounds coming from the television and radio were enough. It was a world dictated by stimulation, which wasn't bad as it seemed. Until the fireman met a free-thinking teenager. He seek out an English professor. (Guy burned his collection many moons ago.) This learned man helped him discover the power of imagination and ideas. It led to an encounter with the drifters, all heavy readers. They believed the time would come when mankind realized the importance of books.
Some are less equal than the others
There were many reasons behind the novel's ambiguous tone. Perhaps Bradbury sensed the world taking unexpected turns, based from the dramatic events that happened during the twentieth century. Maybe the author, who was born in Waukegan, Illinois, still had hopes of a better world.
The American society that Bradbury depicted in "Fahrenheit 451" was an envious bunch. They didn't like to be inferior, in any way, and they only felt that way in the presence of those who knew too much. Nothing shocking about it, as this was a premise of dystopian tales. Bradbury was also hinting at censorship; the First Amendment to the United States Constitution would prohibit the abridging of the freedom of speech. This was the foundation of America, which the author implied it should be guarded by all means.
Bradbury wasn't being paranoid about it, as McCarthyism was prevalent after World War II. (The novel was published in 1953.) It had something to do with the Cold War, but "Fahrenheit 451" wasn't political in nature. It was a menace of another kind.
How good is TV these days?
Not a few actors would point out that the small screen was where good stories could be filmed. Would it mean that movies featuring superheroes won't suffice? This would lead to a long, if not pointless, argument.
Written works have the power to make readers imagine. It could be a frightening thought, but it would be a good one in most cases. Imagination can do wonders. (Everything begins with a vision, including the great civilizations.) Not that TV wasn't good at all, as Bradbury witnessed the golden age. Too much stimulation could be harmful. In fact, too much of anything won't do well. The books would be an exception, and Bradbury might have seen dead authors talking.
