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Cox English 281 22 November 2013 Critical Look into 451 Individuals can all view one subject, but each see a totally different picture than the person next to them. Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 presents a thrilling read about a futuristic world where people consider novels as taboo. In writing this novel, Bradbury paints a terrifying possibility could happen in society today or the near future. Bradbury had many sides and reasons in writing Fahrenheit 451 that many critics have interpreted in numerous ways. In one interesting interpretation of Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury subtly ingrains the theme of a cycle of rebirth through different methods. Most importantly, Bradbury hints at this cycle of rebirth through his allusions and symbols scattered throughout the plotline. If someone looks beyond the obvious satiric criticism of modern society and mass media, he or she may notice Bradburys insinuation that the nature of life is cyclical and we are currently at the bottom of an intellectual cycle (Sisario 1) in his use of allusions and symbols. The state of the population has degenerated to this new low through the simplification of intellectual challenges [that] stifle independent thought by catering to and encouraging intellectual apathy (McGiveron 3). The symbol of the Phoenix on Beattys hat and Beatty himself support the idea of a cycle of rebirth and rejection of independent thought. Beatty had knowledge of the world before, though he did not know how to use it. This symbolized the refusal of the society to use the knowledge, therefore driving it to the low swing in the natural cycle. In accordance with the theme of the Phoenix, Beatty burned to death to symbolize a new

Tran 2 intellectual beginning for Montag and possibly the rest of society. Bradburys biblical allusions also hint at the theme of cyclic rebirth throughout the novel such as the mention of the Testament and the biblical reference to the Lilies of Field, which attests to the faith in the renewal cycles of nature. Bradbury creates a more in-depth, philosophical literary work through these types of details. These clever allusions and symbols allow the reader to get a sense of the deeper message hidden between the words of Fahrenheit 451.

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Works Cited Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1967. Print Eller, Edward E. "An overview of Fahrenheit 451." Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Johnson, Wayne L. "Machineries of Joy and Sorrow." Ray Bradbury. Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1980. 85-88. Rpt. In Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. McGiveron, Rafeeq O. "What 'Carried the Trick'? Mass Exploitation and the Decline of Thought in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451."Extrapolation 37.3 (Fall 1996): 245-256. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 235. Detroit: Gale, 2007.Literature Resource Center. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. Sisario, Peter. "A Study of the Allusions in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451." English Journal 59.2 (Feb. 1970): 201-205. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. Spencer, Susan. "The Post-Apocalyptic Library: Oral and Literate Culture in Fahrenheit 451 and A Canticle for Leibowitz." Extrapolation32.4 (Winter 1991): 331-342. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997.Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Touponce, William F. "Fahrenheit 451.." Ray Bradbury. Mercer Island, Wash.: Starmont House, Inc., 1989. 40-55. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Jelena Krstovic. Vol. 174. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Tran 4 Zipes, Jack. "Mass Degradation of Humanity and Massive Contradictions in Bradbury's Vision of America in Fahrenheit 451." No Place Else: Explorations in Utopian and Dystopian Fiction. Ed. Eric S. Rabkin, Martin H. Greenberg, and Joseph D. Olander. Southern Illinois University Press, 1983. 182-198. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.