Farenheit 451 the Movie

I've always wanted to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, I absolutely love dystopia books. The original book was written in 1953 and the movie was made in 1966 directed by Francois Truffaut. The general synopsis of the story is about a fireman burning books in an oppressive society and begins to be curious of why he is doing so. The situation of Fahrenheit 451 is very similar to the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwells. The environment is much different and so is the control of authority. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, living was grungy and freedom was limited. People were constantly watch by “Big Brother” and recreational actives were essentially nonexistence. In Fahrenheit 451, people live fabulously with luxurious items and drugs. Both stories had controlled media and the television was the main focus of everyday life.

The main focus was how television corrupts people and destroy's peoples interest in reading books. When the wife is introduced in the film, she is glued to the television. Montag brings home good news of a promotion and she responds in a impersonal manner and also delayed. Linda is a very bland person, only focused on being popular, materialistic and constantly on drugs. Drugs is a common thing is this story, as well as overdosing. People don't get arrested for taking drugs, instead they get arrested for reading books. The other main female in this movie is Clarissa, a book reader, who is “well of words.” Those who read are well cultured and actually have thoughts that are not controlled by the media. I watched the film twice; once to amerce my self in the film and the second to observe closer and to take notes. I didn't notice the first time that Linda, Montag's wife, and Clarissa was the actress, the hair cut totally fooled me.

The two groups of people in the film are very different. Those who break the law live in shambles, living out in the cold in rags while those who follow the law are leaving luxurious life of fabricated happiness. Which is better? To live a life drugged up and only knowing of false happiness or a life full of emotions enhanced by literature?