Technology is a Problem in Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Technology, when used properly, may aid a societys development, but overall the extent of what technology may accomplish could hinder rather than progress societys growth. Ray Bradbury conveys this message in Fahrenheit 451 with the use of specific aspects of technology unique to the storys society. This leads to the realization by the reader that when technology is abused, its use may develop into an extremely harmful addiction.

While many devices are mentioned in the book, one such example of harmful technology is the stomach pump. The stomach pump is a medical device used to replace the bad material inside of a persons body. This device is used in the society when Mildred overdoses on sleeping pills. Montag calls an emergency number and two unprofessional looking men come in with the stomach pump. As they are sucking out Mildreds stomach, one of the men reveals to Montag We get these cases nine or ten a night. Got so many, starting a few years ago, we had the special machines built (15). Montag is surprised at this. It means that every night nine or ten people are dependent on the stomach pump just like Mildred is. He realizes that, he has to caution Mildred about what her dependency, in hopes that she realizes will cease her addiction. An addiction which might even kill Mildred in the future. If people believe there is a cure for everything, they could come to be dependent on machines used when addictions over-power them.

While the stomach pump is a medically abused piece of technology, a device abused for entertainment purposes is the parlor wall. It is a large television set that covers a certain amount of walls of a room interacting with the audience and making it an interesting toy for everybody. While Mildred is having a serious conversation with Montag, she turns the conversation over to the Parlor family and her plans with friends later tonight. In a fit of frustration, Montag asks Millie, does he licked his lips. Does your family love you, love you very much, love you with all their heart and soul, Millie? (77). Mildred uses this large television set every day and rarely ever talks about anything but the three walls where she feels that her family is waiting for her. Because of this, Montag feels that Mildred is being consumed by the Parlor family. He does not understand why or how he, Mildreds husband, could be less important than a violent white clown or other program that plays in the parlor. He comes to the conclusion that Mildred is addicted to the family. In essence, it has become her only love, and all that she cares about are between those three walls. If all concern is put into inanimate pieces of technology, affection for people and pure, undying relationships fade away.

Although the parlor family is an extremely addicting piece of technology, it cannot go wherever the owner goes. For this purpose, the seashell radio was introduced into the society. It broadcasts everything that it says directly into the ear of the reader, helping them to have technology with them wherever they choose to go. The morning after Mildred overdoses on sleeping pills, Montag asks Mildred if she is feeling okay. As she looks up at him, he can see that her ears are stuffed with the radios but she was an expert at lip reading from ten years of apprenticeship at Seashell ear thimbles. (18). Montag made a choice not to confront Mildred about the other night. This is caused because of the seashell ear radios. He knows that Mildred will and cannot listen and comprehend this disastrous information if her attention is not fully on him. Because of Mildreds tremendous obsession over the seashell radio, Montag refrains from telling her the news of her near death experience. This lack of communication may have set the road for many more experiences of the same kind in the future.

Although technology may be extremely useful or entertaining, Ray Bradbury conveys the message that it may not always be helpful. The people who become addicted to it in his book find themselves in dangerous, or undesirable situations where they depend on something electronic to survive and live a happy life. Through this message, the reader learns that technology should be used in small doses, but not abused as in the book.