1984 & Farenheit 451: Connections

1984 and Fahrenheit 451

Some of the elements which 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 have in common are elements of irony. For example, in 1984 the Ministry of Peace deals with war, while the Ministry of Truth is all about rewriting the past. While in Farenehit 451 the protagonist is a fireman. Although Montag is not the type of fireman that one is familiar with nowadays: he initiates fires in order to burn books, rather than extinguish them. Another element of irony which exists in Bradbury's novel is that what is considered anti-social in their society matches our definition of a social individual. For example, Clarrisse is thought of as an anti-social individual at her school, but she is on the contrary, very talkative and social.

Another element which both books have in common is that both Winston from 1984 and Montag are rebels in some way. Winston fits the definition of a rebel more than Montag does, because of having idologies and thoughts which are considered unorthodox by the party. Another thing which also makes him a rebel is his behaviour. Winston risks his life by meeting Julia on several instances, and also joins The Brotherhood. Taking those risks is the equivalent of digging himself a grave, because sooner or later he will perish, once caught by the Thought Police. In regards to Fahrenheit 451, the rebelliousness of Montag is a more subtle one (at least for the time being). Montag proves capable of being a rebel when the reader finds out about the novels which he has been hiding behind the grille from the air-conditioning system. The number of novels turns out to be surprisingly high which explicitly shows for the first time ever that Montag has the ability of being a rebel.