Essay Example on Fahrenheit 451: Exploring Irony and Its Impact

THESIS: Irony style has been used effectively to bring out the issues on various topics such as love, morality, intellectual property, censorship, memory and the appeal of Fahrenheit 451 in other media

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

• INTRODUCTION
• Thesis
• Argument
• BODY
• Depiction of the character's behaviour
• Description of the life of firefighters
• Argument on ironic televised programs
• CONCLUSION

Summarize arguments and efforts

Introduction

The irony is a situation that ends up in a different way than what is generally anticipated, or it can be the use of words in a figurative manner in which the intended meaning is different from the actual words in a manner not intended to harm the receiver. In this text, different situations end up in manners that are not anticipated. As spokesperson on behalf of all firefighters, Montag isn't expected to lead a revolution against the same company and government he works with (Jonathan and Touponce 91). In the opening section of the book, Montag says it is leisure to burn, and this; usually, the pleasure in doing something isn't for those who have divergent opinions on the same idea.

The text displays majorly dramatic irony, as seen in the life of Montag, Mildred, Faber, and Claris as well as Beatty. All these characters act in good faith on behalf of the government, their companies, or society (Mateo 171). On the contrary, their divergent opinions lead them to two different groups, and this escalates the war.

To begin with, Mildred insists on being leading a happy life yet fears to discuss the daily challenges. She coils herself to her room, watching and assuming her husband. In her "happy life," Mildred tries suicide several times unsuccessfully. This indicates how deeply this woman disturbed in her life. It is ironic for one to lead a happy life and again contemplates committing suicide. The truth finally dons her, and she opens up to discussion and positive interaction for her benefit and eventually supporting her husband in their liberation.

Secondly, Faber's life comes into play. As a professor in literature who knows what is right and truthful. The best he would have offered to his community is to educate and stand with them in their struggle for liberation. This is something he can do single-handedly given his capacity as a professor and could have garnered enough support to steer his idea to the general public. Unfortunately, Faber confesses to Montag that he fears and can't stand by that truth despite having all the facts at his fingertips.

Another irony in the display is the government effort to eradicate all the books, yet the senior-most officials are allowed to access these books and even firefighters. This fact is evident in the fact that the Fire Officer can quote these texts in his effort to explain how they contradict (Reid 12). These simple facts from the officer, not to mention Beatty, who can add some quotes when conversing with Montage, is a piece of living evidence that the government is doing selective burning of books depending on the possession. Montag confirms that they are allowed to read the books they confiscate for burning if they promise to destroy them later, something nobody does follow up.

Additionally, Clarisse's behavior of questioning all the socially upright regarded activities while walking solely in the night, talking about love and nature is ironic. Generally, nobody is expected to walk alone in the night without any proper reason (Dynel 171). Towards the end, it is evident Clarisse is a disturbed lady, and this is evident in her actions. This is seen in her actions as she comes out fiercely to support Montag in her efforts to stop the forceful government burning of books.

Again, Montage, who leads firemen in burning the books, sneaks some books to his home. He not only sneaks them but also read. Interestingly, he doesn't keep that his secret but comes to share with his boss (Jurkowski 20). Beatty who contributes by quoting some parts of the same book. Montag says, "It is a pleasure to burn," how he is then carrying the same books he has pleasure in burning is ironic. Naturally, it is expected that everything they confiscate is burnt to ashes and leaves no knowledge. What then is the essence of reading the same articles meant to be burnt?

Consequently, it is ironic how leaders blame pressure on the minority for a decline in society while the text itself explains how mass culture results in the decline. There is called in America, resulting from frustrations of writers who are rounded up and their books or ideas, which are perceived to be dangerously destroyed by firemen and government agencies. These authors bow to stage cold war, which will eventually defeat the government agencies keen on destroying those books or their ideas.

Clarrise's disappearance and eventual death display an irony as a government who must protect her citizens turns them on and preys on them. As a good and responsible government, she must have distanced herself from the speculations that she abducted her citizen and does all which is possible to protect her and secure her release from the abductors. Her quietness betrays her. It is not for a government to keep mum on high profile allegations like this of Clarrise, and eventually, she gets killed.

The hilarious irony is that Spencer is a critic of books but is a writer herself. This is evident in her comparison of Redburies Fahrenheit 451 to Walter's Canticle of Lebowitz, in which she describes reading as a heroic act. As an academic critic, it's not expected that she adores reading as a culture that would shape the future of the coming generation. This, therefore, depicts an individual who leads a life different from the desires of her soul and only plays calm yet disturbed inwardly.

Another irony is how Montag escapes through a river with the help of Faber and later meets individuals who were on the same mission in the countryside. These people then ally to spearhead the writing of articles they mastered after the war is over. The ironic part is that there isn't any platform for a meeting or any connection between the parties. How then is it possible for those in illegal possession of ideas or items to meet other strangers and trust them with this vital information?

Lastly, it is ironic for Beatty to say the government is protecting the society while the same government kills its citizens in a hit and run missions and keeps quiet. She tries to explain how the government has various measures and enforcement to protect society while the public is aware they recently killed Clarisse. Such killings take the society backward as those who would steer the country forward fear for their lives and takes the option for exile.

The characters in this essay each depict a face he or she truly does not represent at the end. This means their true colors are seen at the end of the essay and what they truly stand for. As spokesperson on behalf of all firefighters, Montag isn't expected to lead a revolution against the same company and government he works with. In the opening section of the book, Montag says it is leisure to burn and this; normally the pleasure in doing something isn't for those who have a divergent opinion on the same idea the characters in this essay each depict a face he or she truly does not represent at the end. It is important to note that each individual lives a life different from the reality that deeply burns within them. This indicates such a society will definitely have a problem if individuals don't stand up for the truth and lead a life they strongly believe in. For one to stand up for truth, it requires a thorough self-reflection and a positive interaction.

Conclusion

There are situations in the novel that depicts a complete difference in the way the characters in the essay are behaving and the general reality of the life they are living. On one occasion, a character is insisting on being living happily, thus sees no reason to question what the general public is doing, which seems not right. Yet, the same individual is depressed and isn't in a position to discuss what she terms the "good morals" of the society, and the worst part is seen in her attempts to commit suicide.

The other notable case is seen in the life of firefighters. The same individuals who burn books are secretly sneaking some books to their houses irrespective of their advocacy for televised programs. They later read these books, and after that, burn them or hide them from the general public, as seen in the life of Montag (Boom 14). Again, the Fire Chief quote books to show that the texts contradict each something which shows the government allows some individuals in power to access books.

Additionally, it's interesting how Mildred, Montag's wife, see characters in televised programs more real than her husband while Clarisse, a young woman in their neighborhood comfortably walks at night, talks about love and nature while question what the society presents as socially upright (Bradbury 121). This is an indication of a society where each individual lives a life being bothered by some factors yet portrays another phase of life different from reality.

Work Cited

Bloom, Harold, ed. Fahrenheit 451. Infobase Publishing, 2007.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451-Ray Bradbury. Infobase Publishing, 2008.

Dynel, Marta. "Ironic intentions in action and interaction." Language Sciences 75 (2019): 1-14.

Eller, Jonathan R., and F. Touponce William. "The Simulacrum of Carnival: Fahrenheit 451." Ray Bradbury's (2008): 91-114.

Jurkowski, Henryk. Aspects of puppet theatre. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2014.Mateo, Marta. "The translation of irony." Meta: journal des traducteurs/Meta: Translators' Journal 40.1 (1995): 171-178.

Reid, Robin Anne. Ray Bradbury: a critical companion. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000.

Shurmack, Jaclyn. "Fahrenheit 451: A Teacher's Guide." (2005).