We still read "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury for several reasons. These reasons would be the message the book shares, the characters, and the lessons we can learn from reading it. Like I said, the message is a big factor to what makes this book timeless. After reading this book, I have concluded that the message is that literature and knowledge is a great value, and what keeps us informed enough to think for ourselves and be our own person. In this book, the people are completely controlled by the government. The government rules through fear and violence so the people are too afraid to act differently. The few people who do think for themselves are Clarisse, Professor Faber and the main character, Guy Montag. This message about self knowledge, value, and individuality is something that can be applied through the years. That's what makes it so timeless. Another timeless aspect of this book would be the characters. A few characters I think are timeless would be Clarisse and Mildred. Clarisse is kind of your teenage girl that is not afraid to be herself and could care less what people think of her. Mildred is someone who tries to avoid the problems and escapes through drugs. "The small crystal bottle of sleeping tablets which earlier today had been filled with thirty capsules and which now lay uncapped and empty in the light of the tiny flare" (Bradbury, 13). Both characters are common in society today. Lastly, the lessons learned are timeless as well. From this book, one can learn the effects of a society without literature and books. The people in this city really did not think for themselves, but because they did not have history in books or other resources they did not know any better. It also shows the loss of individuality when a government controls every aspect of your life. All of these aspects together prove why this particular book is timeless and can be read still today.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.
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