Authority & Individual
In Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, authority is viewed as ruthless and the individual is portrayed as innocent. This is also emphasised in two related texts, Whose Life Is It Anyway? By Brian Clark, and Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont. The themes of ruthlessness and innocence are exemplified throughout all three texts, through the concept of the authority and the individual.
In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, authority is depicted as ruthless. This is shown throughout the novel through the character of Montag and through the use of symbolism, oxymoron, repetition and imagery. “It was a pleasure to burn” this quote is an oxymoron and it portrays Montag’s sadistic perspective as he enjoys something that is destructive. Bradbury uses symbolism to discuss the ruthlessness of authority, by using Montag as a symbol of authority. This is shown through the numbers 451 illustrated on Montag’s helmet. The number 451 symbolises the temperature at which paper catches fire and burns. Ruthlessness is also shown through repetition. “To see things blackened” and “turned dark with burning”. These sentences portray how the colour black is repeated throughout the text. Imagery is also used in the text to highlight the ruthlessness of authority. Montag’s “fierce grin of all men signed and driven back by flame” signifies Montag as an authority figure. Therefore, authority is discussed as ruthless in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, using characterisation, themes and various language techniques.
Brian Clark’s Whose Life Is It Anyway? Conveys authority figures are ruthless. This is portrayed through Dr. Emerson’s ruthless behaviour. The title Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a rhetorical question that directs the reader’s attention to the issue of ruthlessness. It forces the reader to stop and question who is exercising the rights of power and authority, through being ruthless. A sense of ambivalence is created as the audience questions the connotations associated with
In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, authority is depicted as ruthless. This is shown throughout the novel through the character of Montag and through the use of symbolism, oxymoron, repetition and imagery. “It was a pleasure to burn” this quote is an oxymoron and it portrays Montag’s sadistic perspective as he enjoys something that is destructive. Bradbury uses symbolism to discuss the ruthlessness of authority, by using Montag as a symbol of authority. This is shown through the numbers 451 illustrated on Montag’s helmet. The number 451 symbolises the temperature at which paper catches fire and burns. Ruthlessness is also shown through repetition. “To see things blackened” and “turned dark with burning”. These sentences portray how the colour black is repeated throughout the text. Imagery is also used in the text to highlight the ruthlessness of authority. Montag’s “fierce grin of all men signed and driven back by flame” signifies Montag as an authority figure. Therefore, authority is discussed as ruthless in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, using characterisation, themes and various language techniques.
Brian Clark’s Whose Life Is It Anyway? Conveys authority figures are ruthless. This is portrayed through Dr. Emerson’s ruthless behaviour. The title Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a rhetorical question that directs the reader’s attention to the issue of ruthlessness. It forces the reader to stop and question who is exercising the rights of power and authority, through being ruthless. A sense of ambivalence is created as the audience questions the connotations associated with