Fahrenheit 451 and the importance of intellectual Freedom Pt. 1

Fahrenheit 451 is a prophetic book of massive power. Its idea of firemen burning books instead of putting out fires is both enthralling and horrifying. But the true theme of the book is the persevering of literature and those who love it.  In fact, it is in these men and women that the source of Intellectual freedom exists.   but how does Intellectual freedom prevail in Fahrenheit 451, and why is it important for all people?  That’s what I hope to explore in this essay.  

So, how does Intellectual Freedom exist within the World of Fahrenheit 451.  In a sense, it doesn’t.  The majority of the population don’t seem to have much intellect, relying instead on the “Walls” and News sources for much of their information.  This source, which is portrayed as controlled by the larger governing entity, only encouraged this condemning of books, which entertains and engages the audience, without enlightening them about life, or it’s bigger questions.  This relationship is addictive, making it hard for the people to look at other sources for enlightenment or Truth.     This also enhances the idea of books being bad because others have never truly investigated whether they were evil or not.  

However, like in all societies and cultures, there are the holdouts and the exceptions.  Guy Montag is the hero who discovers books, and what they stand for.  After watching a woman burn in her house alongside the literature of her life, Montag was left with a gritty impression, and a question: what on earth could be in these books that would make one want to die for them?  So, like any good man, he opened one up, and discovered their soul, their prose, their beauty.  Soon, he couldn’t go back.  however, when he shared with others, their closed minds couldn’t handle what would come from such content, the emotions, the Truth, and views.  Montag now stood in a position that was directly opposed to the direction of Everyone Else.  He had become like those he had fought against, defending the dead from the flames.  In the end, Montag does find other exiles, who have taken on the role of “living books”, keeping them in their minds and in their hearts.

These men represented the books.  however, it wasn’t the physical books that mattered.  It was the ideas.  Granger described the group as book burners as well:

  We read the books and burnt them, afraid that they’ll be found….Better to keep it in the old heads, where no one can see it or suspect it.  We are all bits of history and literature and international law.

The physical books were important, but they weren’t essential.  It was what was contained within the books that made them important.  The ideas and Truths that stood our time.  These men stood as one of the final sources for these truths.  Many of these ideas may have contradicted each other, but that does not remove the importance of them.

Part 2 will explore the importance of collecting the thoughts and ideas of rival thinkers and testing them, as well as the dangers of “groupthink” as the classic novel 1984 put it.