No Future

 Authors Note: This is my response to the assignment we had. (Pick a scene from the book and explain it, look for symbolism, etc.)  I might need to  change this a little bit because I don't like the ending but...

\In a particular scene from Melinda's past, the group of girls are done trick or treating for the night. With all of the lights off, they light a candle and look into a mirror. You're supposed to see your future in the mirror but "[Melinda] couldn't see anything".  This scene was used to show that even though Melinda had friends, she still didn't fit in or care about her future. That's why I don't think that her life would have changed if she hadn't have called the cops. Melinda would still be confused and even depressed when entering high school. Her friends still would have separated into their own cliques because they were so different from each other. This is why this particular scene was used in the story.

Surviving in a Decietful World

"Here for instance, the man says 'What do you think of this whole idea Helen?' And he looks at me sitting on center stage , see? And I say, I say-'I think that's fine!' And then they go on with the play until he says, 'Do you agree with that Helen?'  and I say, 'I sure do!'. Isn't that fun Guy?"

No. I don't think that's fun. But in Guy Montag's twisted world this is considered entertainment.  Similar to this situation is The Hunger Games. Imagine yourself lost in a world full of uncontrollable surprises. You have no way of knowing what comes next but you try to survive anyway. It's your only chance to live and you know you're not going to win but you try anyway. This is how Katniss and the other contestants in the Hunger Games feel.  Entertaining to watch right? Unfortunately each character in their own stories had to live in a world full of deceiving entertainment. And just like Katniss, both characters try to survive in their own worlds, no matter how different they may be.

Through each character's journey, each had to obey the government. Katniss entered into the Hunger Games in place of her sister, and Montag was a firefighter. By obeying the government, each got to know their enemies better. In Montag's case, his enemy not only was the government, but the banned books. During his job he had made a small collection of banned books that he rescued before burning down the houses.  On the other hand, Katniss played in the Hunger Games in place of her sister. By doing this, she was able to speak out and make a statement. One scenario was when her friend inside the ring, Rue, died. Katniss placed flowers around her before her body was taken away which offended the Capitol a little bit and aroused the other districts.

Although their governments seem to act the same they couldn't be more different. In Fahrenheit 451, their government is a democracy. Earlier in the story Mildred and her friends were talking about past elections so you know that people sort of have a say in who gets to run their country. On the other hand, the Hunger Games is run by a dictatorship because of President Snow. He has run their country for years and know one has been re-elected. Although, everyone else who is not a part of the Capitol believes they could have a better life which makes them want to rebel. (And they do)

No matter how different their governments are politically, they are still very similar. Clearly it was their countries forms of entertainment that is the most deceiving about each. No, it's not fun. There's nothing fun about sitting behind a screen and talking through a scripted conversation. There's nothing fun about fighting for your life, much less watching someone do it.  And there's definitely nothing fun about being trapped by a deceitful government.

Fahrenheit 451 Quote

During any story, authors like to throw in many idioms to make the readers think about what they're reading. This is what Ray Bradbury did in the book Fahrenheit 451. The idioms in his story are what make it worth reading which is what my example did.

I chose an idiom where Montag is talking to Faber about their secret plan to save the books and hopefully the future.  Montag says to Faber "But aren't you interested?" and Faber replies "Not if you start talking the sort of talk that might get me burnt for my trouble."  This is sort of an ironic idiom because literally it means that Faber will actually get burnt for the trouble he made which usually would seem insane, but then again that's what their world has come to! You could actually get burnt for the trouble he made! Another way to look at this quote would be that Faber is going to be in a lot of trouble if someone were to find out. This would be the way you take the quote. For example, when someone says "Break a leg!" they don't actually want you to break a leg, it's a figure of speech. Really they're saying "Good luck!".  The same goes for my example.

Unlike  most idioms, Ray Bradbury likes to change it up a little. Just like my example, the idiom was ironic which made you think even more about what he was trying to say. In the end you realize that Faber is just saying that they'll get in a lot of trouble if someone finds out…or was he?