"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."
Have you ever imagined if books really disappear from the world? Whether or not you like reading books, what would you do if your government banned people from reading, owning, or copying books? Would you be contented if your daily life was all about entertainment, games, and pleasure?
"Fahrenheit 541" is special reading for me because this is the first book about especially addresses issues of book banning, literature ignorance, and mass entertainment that I read. Lately, I find an indescribable pleasure that many years ago, people voiced concerns about the topics before I was born into this world. Whenever this small book mentions prominent writers, my heart leapt in joy. Ray Bradbury inserts authors and thinkers, such as Plato, Jonathan Swift, and my favorite, Thomas Hardy.
I felt "at home" reading this book. Prior to this, I had read 1984, Brave New World, and Atlas Shrugged, all of which are about dystopian worlds. But this one seems especially designed for book lovers like me.
Despite the special vibe, this book "disturbs" me so much because it's full of pain and sacrifice. I bought it last Saturday and finished it on Wednesday. I was "tortured" when reading the part that seeing Guy Montag running away from the beetle, which until today, I don't quite understand what "the beetle" means. Another thing that made him run even harder is the Mechanical Hound, which is used by the government to spot on those who read or own books.
Guy Montag is the name of the protagonist here. After a decade of working as a fireman, his life turns upside down when he meets Clarisse McClellan, a 17-year-old girl who lives as his neighbor. Her deep thought and eccentricity captivate Guy Montag because, from their brief encounters, he starts questioning his current life situation.
Indeed, Guy Montag never before questioned his job as a fireman whose task is burning books and houses of the owners. He starts digesting his emptiness and unhappy marriage because he and his wife, Mildred "Millie" Montag start distancing from each other. Millie spends her days watching the television, consuming sleeping pills, and ignoring her husband's inconvenience with his current job.
His life takes a contrasting turn when at times, an old lady prefers to commit suicide with her books when he and Captain Beatty burn her house. Guy Montag decides to stop burning books and of course, faces consequences; having him and his house burned.
With just 158 pages, the book is so portable and is page-turner. Yet, it is quite heavy with many symbols, heart-piercing with repetitive words, and insightful with sarcastic inclusions on why book burning takes place in that world.
Let me recall statements from Captain Beatty who is a former avid book reader. He says that reading books about Philosophy and Sociology will make people unhappy. Non-fiction books are about experts contradicting each other.
I find his statements to be satirical and thought-provoking at the same time. His opinions are true, indeed. Reading qualified books that invite us to find the roots of everything may depress us. The more we read non-fiction books, the more we find diverse opinions that may oppose one another. And fiction books are deceptions.
So, it's very easy to face reality now, get stuck in the moment, and not think about the outside world. If the world is already happy, why bother to ruin it?
For a bookworm, the Captain's opinions encourage me to personally dig into why I still have to read books that make me unhappy and inquire about the truths behind those different opinions. This is the hardest task of being a reader, by the way. I think every reader shouldn't stop inquiring for knowledge even if one has to face uncomfortable truths.
Because the inconvenience, the unhappiness, and the contradiction are the things that drive our self-growth and change for a better future. Opening our eyes to what's uncomfortable and unhappy but is real is necessary. However, this book depicts the ultimate contradictory condition. Of course, the main goal isn't just making the citizens happy all the time. The government doesn't want any negative sentiments from the public thus making them rebelling. Book is dangerous because it can trigger the public to criticize then revolt.
Relevance with today's condition
If Ray Bradbury were still alive today, he would be shocked to find out that his fiction was getting real.. with some plot twists. In my country, Indonesia, the reading level remains low. I still find myself a weirdo because I prefer reading to watching movies or serials. There's a glistening hope nowadays with the growing literacy applications and social media. However, popular book genres are about romance, self-development, and school textbooks. Modern philosophy starts garnering notice from popular readers following those in Western countries.
Fast consumption of books is rising. People prefer to read things that they love instead of subjects that "disturb" them. How-to, feel-good subjects are sold more quickly than books about justice, capitalism opposition, or democracy.
Whenever I visit local bookstores, I am a bit disappointed that the best-selling section is filled with books about self-development, cheesy fiction, or business. Don't get me wrong. I don't underestimate the genres but there should be more people who love reading books that trigger further inquiries about important topics, such as poverty alleviation, business equality, or dangers of today's entertainment modes. I long to view my fellow Indonesian readers reading books that aren't shallow.
All in all, this book is exceptionally powerful for me. It motivates me to read even more. At times when my job is currently uncertain, this book puts me back on the right track to resume working on my own book. Thank you Ray Bradbury for the inspiration.
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