Emery Lang

AP Lang

Grubb

4/21/2017

The Developing Tone of Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury is an excellent example of a dystopian society

and hardships that come with living in a uniform society. The main character, Guy Montag, is a

typical individual in this Communist United States obtaining the position of a Fireman whose job

is to burn the printed book and the houses in which they are found. Montag begins to question

the meaning of life only when 17 year old, Clarisse McClellan, enters his life; she simply asks

him if he is happy. As Bradbury creates this dystopian world there is a sense of discomfort and

pity. Ray Bradburys broad variety of diction and ethereal juxtaposition shapes the foreboding,

mystified tone present throughout the story.

Bradburys choice of diction in Fahrenheit 451 has been carefully chosen to emanate the

proper tone desired. In the beginning of the novel hypnotized, impossible, incredible are a few

examples of repeated words; they work together to grasp the readers interest and develop an

anticipated tone. The word uncertain suggests that the author is uneasy about the events to

come in the story ahead. Rebellious events are bound to occur with the description of words

about Clarisse such as, crazy, insane, wonderful, Bradbury reveals that she is contrasting

Montag. The book is set in the future and therefore has words specific to the book. Mildred,

Guy Montags wife, refers to the people in her three-wall tv as family. She spends every hour

she is awake in the living room surrounded by her 3D family; she talks to her husband about

them as if they were actually in the room, conversing with her. Calling these people her family
clarifies Mildred is detached from reality and somewhat depressed. The recurrence of family

with Mrs. Montags definition gives an eerie feeling to the book. The overall diction of the book

comes together to emit the authors foreboding tone.

Another literary element prominent in the book is Bradburys ethereal juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition is a key rhetorical device in Fahrenheit 451 because it aids in the readers ability to

grasp the strangeness and impracticality of this futuristic, uniform society. Disaster seemed

positive, is a quote intending to explain how disaster was bound to happen but describing it with

the word positive is contrasting with disaster giving the reader a feel that disaster is good

(Bradbury 29). Dark and shining and alive describes Clarisses eyes as she looks at Montag

where dark juxtaposes with shining and alive; this description illustrates not only Clarisses

appearance but her personality as well and that she is secretive and desires more in life

(Bradbury 4). Bradbury writes about Clarisse as though he is intrigued by her too and can not

wait to discover more of her secrets. This undesirable world is written with juxtaposition to

contrast the good with the bad and Bradburys fear of uniformity shines through. Juxtaposition

contrasts many different elements throughout the story and helps the author achieve a mystified

tone.

The overall tone of the novel, Fahrenheit 451, is foreboding with a bit of melancholy.

Development of the tone can be tracked by following the development of diction and the

frequent application of juxtaposition. Diction manipulates the tone with words such as,

incredible, dangerous, amazed, wished, power and curiosity. Bradburys diction could be

described as intriguing. Juxtaposition assists in contrasting our present world with a futuristic

uniform society and emphasizes the authors sense of oddness about the new world. Ray
Bradbury accurately expresses his feelings about the novel, his fear of censorship, dependency

on others and being unable to let curiosity run wild.