Name:
Course:
Tutor:
Date:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
According to Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 society lacks three things that are vital in their daily lives. Some of these things are at their disposal, but they cannot utilize them fully because of one or two constraints. Firstly, Fahrenheit 451 lacks quality information to give detailed and “textured” meaning of life (Bradbury 62). For example, the new media lack a touch of class to disseminate information that people can use to better their lives. Television sets are fast, and people cannot replay them to understand the information well, or recover what they did not watch. On the contrary, books are better because people can reread them and extract significant information. Secondly, people lack peaceful time to engage in leisure activities (Bradbury 63). The leisure time at Fahrenheit 451 is worthless because of images, noise, explosions, and speed. Therefore, people are denied the opportunity to derive any meaning from what they feel, see, and hear. Lastly, Fahrenheit 451 people lack the liberty to utilize what they learn whenever they are lucky to access information. For example, there is a threat of physical violence whenever people use independent minds to formulate and oppose ideologies.
Despite Fahrenheit 451 being published six decades ago, the theme of the book still remains relevant in the present day society. In particular, the three things that this society misses are highly contentious in the modern society. For instance, there is a large number of mass media that disseminate unlimited and sometimes conflicting information (Bradbury 63). This makes it hard for people to concentrate on one media and acquire the correct information. Just like the television was fast in 1963, it is faster today and contains more commercials than bulletins that can help solve societal problems. Similarly, the internet makes the acquisition of information extremely easy, but the existence of “links” make navigation hard and worthless (McGiveron 177). For example, when one is reading a page, he or she will be directed to read related stories via another link. Accordingly, stories are read halfway and the person ends up with incomplete information that makes little sense.
Similarly, the leisure problem remains one of the most contentious social issues in the present day society. In Fahrenheit 451, people had leisure time but did not experience any peace during leisure activities and moments (Bradbury 62). For example, images, noise, explosions, and speed spoilt the occasion. On the contrary, members of the current society lack the time for leisure moments and activities. Today, people spend at least eight hours at work or school, two hours in traffic, two hours sorting their problems, and another two hours looking for food and doing household chores. Students spend at least two hours doing their homework and assignments. This routine repeats itself for seven days (McGiveron 177). Moreover, the same problems that Fahrenheit 451 experienced in 1953 still remains and is even widespread and serious in the current society.
Finally, the liberties that people have in the current society are more than those of Fahrenheit in 1953. People can easily utilize information in a manner that pleases them but should not interfere with the liberties of their neighbors (McGiveron 177). Restriction to access and utilization of information does not exist in modern states as long as they are used to advance the common good of society.

Works Cited
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. Woodstock, Illinois: Dramatic Publishing Company, 1986. Print.
McGiveron, Rafeeq O. “Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.” Explicator 54.3 (1996): 177. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.