The people in F451 are like the men in the cave in Plato's Myth of the Cave. Both of these poeple are not enlightened and don't see the world as it really is. The main population in F451 are told not to think about things, they are only supposed to absorb and consume things. To think about things might make them realize something more than themselves annd make them unhappy. It is easier to stay secure and ignorant than find true knowledge.
In Plato's "Myth of the Cave", when the men leave the cave and are enlightened, it is difficult for them to take it all in at first. They need to look at the shadows after looking at the sun so their eyes can adjust. When they go back to the cave and tell others of what they have seen, the others don't want to hear it. They want to stay in the security of their shadows. The population of F451 wants to stay secure too, they don't to be enlightened, they want to be happy.
So what do you think? Agree or disagree? Want to add? (Btw Brittany, can I edit this later? I think I said "thing" too much.)
2 comments:
Wow, I completly agree!
The general population of F451 is detatched from any knowledge, because they are secure in simplicity, and therefore, happy. As soon as they turn and see what's making the shadows on the wall, things get complex, and in complexity, comes the unhappiness.
I think that the captain (Beaty) is one of the people who are casting the shadows in Plato's "The Myth of the Cave". He really knows what's going on, but he doesn't want to remove himself from the cave. He knows that the shadows aren't reality. However, I think that he might be a little bit scared to see what true understanding really is, because as once as he leaves the cave, he knows he won't be content staring at the shadows, or creating someone else's happiness again. He just keeps inside so that he can continue with his illusion of happiness.
I think that might be where Guy might be headed too. Since his conversations with Clarisse, he began to think that the shadows couldn't be all there is, but he still feigns happiness so that he doesn't surprise his coworkers. However, by reading the books that he's hiding, he may proceed out into the sunlight.
Do you guys think that Guy will end up going into the sunlight, or do you think he'll still want to follow his illusion of happiness?
(And go ahead and edit it whenever you want, Laure :])
I agree with what you have to compare Laurie. This lack of knowledge and willingness seems to promote an idea of no change. The people in both Plato's Myth of the Cave and Fahrenheit 451 seem to not what any change. If change was to occur in their rountinly lives their thoughts would expand leading them to think about more things that could lead them to be unhappy. Bradbury depicts Mildred as this isolated woman, whom does not associate with anyone but her TV show and maybe Guy. She must find this rountine secure in some sense and if it were to change she would become unhappy. When Bradbury puts Clarisse into the picture, Guy starts to seem like the one character who is looking outside the box. He wonders am I really happy. At this point we see that one charachter is developing some thought and awarness. Later Captain Beatty is used to calm Guy's thoughts down and alter his mind back to the "norm".
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