Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. 60th Anniversary ed. New York: Simon and Schuster, n.d. Print.
Topics Addressed
Identity, Happiness, Insight, Literature
Social Critique
Governments censor materials available to the people, controlling the way they think and act. Since the materials are censored, people do not have true freedom and are exposed to the government’s control.
Important Quotations
"You're one of the few who put up with me. That's why I think it's so strange you're a fireman, it just doesn't seem right for you, somehow."
He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other. (Bradbury 8)
Bibliographic Citation
Vonnegut, Kurt. "2BR02B." Worlds of If Science Fiction Jan. 1962: n. pag. Print.
Topics Addressed
Government, Freedom/Control, Propaganda
Social Critique
Death is the only choice that people can make independently; it is the only way of self-expression. Propaganda is able to alter people’s values and control the way people behave and think.
Important Quotations
“The painter pondered the mournful puzzle of life demanding to be born and, once born, demanding to be fruitful ... to multiply and to live as long as possible—to do all that on a very small planet that would have to last forever.” (Vonnegut) “Thank you, sir," said the hostess. "Your city thanks you; your country thanks you; your planet thanks you. But the deepest thanks of all is from future generations.” (Vonnegut)
Bibliographic Citation
The Giver. Dir. Phillip Noyce. Walden Media, 2014. Film.
Topics Addressed
Importance of Memory, Love and Pain vs Order and Sacrifice.
Social Critique
Joy and Pain are the basis of what makes people human. Emotions can bring prosperity or destruction and dictate the way people act. Other than emotions, people have the ability to make choices and think independently. A world without emotions can not be filled with life. People become part of a controlled society and cannot live freely as human. Memories reflect on emotion and are best remembered through feeling.
Important Quotations
“There's much more. There's all that goes beyond – all ... that is Elsewhere – and all that goes back, and back, and back. I received all of those, when I was selected. And here in this room, all alone, I re-experience them again and again. It is how wisdom comes. And how we shape our future.”
Bibliographic Citation
Avatar. Dir. James Cameron. 20th Century Fox, 2009. Film.
Topics Addressed
Greed, Man vs Nature,
Social Critique
Corruptive societies filled with greed and that hold power are neglectful towards those that don’t. Conflicts are more likely to occur between societies that differ in values, and become very violent if the two sides care not for one another.
Important Quotations
Colonel Quaritch: “Every living thing that crawls, flies or squats in the mud wants to kill you and eat your eyes for Jujubes.”
Colonel Quaritch: “Hey Sully... how does it feel to betray your own race? You think you're one of them? Time to wake up!”
Schuster, n.d. Print.
He felt his body divide itself into a hotness and a coldness, a softness and a hardness, a trembling and a not trembling, the two halves grinding one upon the other. (Bradbury 8)
“Thank you, sir," said the hostess. "Your city thanks you; your country thanks you; your planet thanks you. But the deepest thanks of all is from future generations.” (Vonnegut)
Colonel Quaritch: “Hey Sully... how does it feel to betray your own race? You think you're one of them? Time to wake up!”