Sebastian Reisch

Mrs. Tallardy

English 121

30, May 2018

Socratic Seminar Post Write

Literature has a wide variety of genres and styles that can conform to reality or hint at the

dangers that may lie ahead. In novels, many of them have morals to their story that generally has

a connotation to humanity to the reader. ​Fahrenheit 451​ is one of those that have that principle

hidden in the in the text of an important issue in today's society. That principle revolves around

the censorship of government and its ability to control the actions of the civilians that abide by it.

In the novel, Guy Montag starts off as a law-abiding citizen of his city, but as the novel

progresses, he begins to question the authority and their actions. As a result, he becomes placed

as a target by the government, and he realizes the actual failure in the government while

narrowly escapes its clutches. This short story is given as a form of warning to the readers never

to let the government become a dictatorship. Even though many books read this year had

differing aspects to humanity that were valid and reasonable, ​Fahrenheit 451​ has more of an

impact because this subject is not discussed unlike ​To Kill a Mockingbird​ where the story

revolves around racism. Racism is in a way a mainstream issue, but government censorship is

not because it is controversial and has higher stakes but it as inclined in the short story to

question the gov’t if it would seem to become unlawful. This novel makes the reader genuinely

think and question themselves and the impact they have made on their society and its
safekeeping. This aspect of humanity is so crucial but underlooked, and ​Fahrenheit 451​ is not

only a reminder but a basis of how to approach problems of this context.