The poem "Dover Beach", in the book Fahrenheit 451, was chosen by Ray Bradbury because of its representation of the world. The world in the poem, like the world in the novel, used to have diversity, knowledge, and human connection. Now those qualities are lost.
Both worlds were once "at the full, and round earth's shore". They were diverse, complex, and had a great deal of human connection. On page 89, Faber tells Montag about how the world used to be great; with drama programs, newspapers, and other interests. "Like a beautiful statue of ice it was, melting in the sun". .
Now their world has been reformed into a society of instant pleasure, no thought, and a lack of distinguishable qualities. The poem's world also turned into a place with no interests, and no diversity. "Now I only hear its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar- .
The world in the novel has evidently changed, however the characters may not recognize these changes as negative ones. To them, their world is as normal, as contented, and as practical as ever. The world in the poem is also fooling those into thinking nothing is wrong at all. "The world, which seems to land before us like a land of dreams, so various, so beautiful, so new". Like the world in the novel, the poem's world "hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light". Neither of these worlds has much at all anymore. .
"We are here as on a darkling plain". The narrator in the poem is blinded to the fact that something is wrong, just as many of the characters in the book are unaware that their world needs adjustments. "We are swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight". No one knows what to do about his or her society in either world. Some people such as Faber and Montag know the problems need to be dealt with, and both want the world that Faber spoke so warmly of. However, they are confused on what to do about their situation, and how they are going to battle the people that believe even stronger in their lifestyle and society today.
