Fahrenhiet 451

            In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, and George Orwell's novel 1984, there are very common similarities in both contrast and comparison of themes and I intend to learn from these themes the effects of governments the control its people and how every society has flaws and how they can be changed, and the themes that are displayed in both novels are technology, control of information and history, and the dangers of totalitarianism, but at the same time in 1984 there is language as mind control, and in Fahrenheit 451 there is knowledge versus ignorance.
             In both novels, a very obvious theme comes to mind rather quickly, that being technology. With telescreens visible around the city in which Winston lives as well as hidden microphones, the Party is able to watch its members almost all of the time. Also, they also have machines to inflict on those who defy the Party and its beliefs. Not to mention the amount of computers and machinery to create large production of goods and service. These means of technology compare very close to the ones in Montag's civilization. His government possesses flamethrowers to burn books that they have deemed contraband because of the information they contain. The Mechanical Hound is also an important piece of technology, .
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             used to detect and locate illegal books. Both governments make the society believe that these are used for the good of humanity, but also create extreme evil and total chaos.
             Control of information and history plays a major role in both books; however, both are done differently. In 1984, the Party has power and control over every piece of information created. Whenever something happens within or outside of the Party, content of all newspapers and historical records are modified to make the Party look correct, no matter what the circumstances are. Also, no one is allowed to keep their own pictures or documents, because of fear the true past may be revealed.