Orion Ma

2nd Period
March 12, 2015
Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Problems and Their Connections

Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy Albert Einstein.

After reading this quote, it is easy to realize that in the book Fahrenheit
451 and in our lives, there are many issues stemming from great belief
in those with power. We seem to have an innate law built into
ourselves that we should let those in power do the thinking for
ourselves for two reasons. We do this because they are powerful and
therefore right and more commonly, because we believe that thinking
for ourselves is simply too difficult. As a result, we commonly let others
lead us. Most commonly, in the real world and Fahrenheit 451, by
using technology, which has many ill effects. During this essay, I will be
referring to two sources, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and How
Technology Impacts Physical and Emotional Health by Paula Ebben, a
website describing the ills of using technology due to their effects as
people. After deep consideration of these two issues, I am inclined to
believe that as a human race, we need to practice using logic and do
our own thinking. During this essay, I will touch on two problems and

their solutions, the overwhelming belief in our leaders and our abuse of
the ability to use technology.

My first problem I would like to touch on is that in Fahrenheit 451

and our life, we dont think. This is a problem because it allows for
those in power to take advantage of others, which in turn creates
undesired issues. In the novel, we see this issue take root and flower in
the scene where Mildred turns in Guy Montag, her husband, into the
government because she lacks her own opinions. More pervasive
however, is when neighbors turn each other in for many of the same
reasons. A quote from the book says, Mildred, you didnt put in the
alarm! This event referred to the moment when Montag realized that
his wife had turned him in because he had books, a forbidden item
under the current regime. These moments are similar to my life and
more importantly, the worlds. The most common parallel is that
people in power give off the assertion that they are constantly right,
despite the fact that their reasoning may prove to be incorrect. In fact,
just yesterday, I had found myself unwittingly agree with my parents
despite the fallacious reasoning that they had used. To solve this
concern, I think that the most prudent course of action is to think
before acting and to give people enough time so they can formulate
their course of action. In order to ensure that these actions are taken, I
must only ask my parents and sister for a show of good faith that will

allow for us to see is this solution actually works. If this new method
were to succeed, it would improve everyones quality of life because it
would allow then necessary time to think through their actions.

My second problem is that technology completely consumes

people in their daily lives, causing them to spend every second in a
virtual world, disconnected from reality. This is clearly a problem
because according to How Technology Impacts Physical and Emotional
Health by Paula Ebben, using technology for extended periods of time
has damaging effects on the body such as growing obese, going deaf,
eye strain, and neck strain. In addition to these physical issues, using
technology allows people to escape stresses of life and in extreme
cases, even escape life itself. In the novel, we see this portrayed by
Mildred and her Seashells, a kind of ear bud radios, by the parlor
walls these walls act as three dimensional TV, a complete separation
from reality that leaves you exposed and open to manipulation. This
dangerous side effect is explained by Faber who said, [TV] grows you
any shape it wishes. It is an environment as real as the world itself,
meaning that is so enrapturing that it even creates your wishes. Also,
due to the Seashells that Mildred steadfastly wears, she is closed off
from the world and as the quote says, She was an expert at lip
reading from ten years of apprenticeship at Seashell Ear-Thimbles. I
am also well-versed in these matters and harms that technology

creates. For example, whenever I sit down to play some video games,
time rushes by leaving only some digital attainments and scores in its
place. To fix these problems, I could institute time limits or simply just
not use technology. Still, instituting this resolution will demand large
amounts of willpower constantly to abide by whatever rules I construct.
If I were to solve this problem though, it would benefit me because of
the time I would have in place of leveling up on a video game and
additionally, the lack of medical concerns I would have. To summarize
the issue concerning technology dependence, I must say that our use
of technology takes away our time and our self control.

Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy Albert Einstein

After reading this essay, it is very simple to understand the

earlier quote by Albert Einstein. However, I would change certain parts.
For one, I would add that technology is almost as bad so that it would
read something like, Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy,
almost as bad as being dependent on technology. The two problems,
blind belief and technology overuse, could be solved by thinking for
yourself and putting time limits on technology use. These solutions
would make my life better because then I would not be crippled by
other people making decisions for me and because I would not be
injured by technology overuse. This issue is not only important as a

class assignment, but also because it affects our life as children of this
new era, ones who will be affected by people in power making
decisions for us and addicted and injured by technology.