In the world of Fahrenheit 451, intellectualism and independent thought had become abominable, making anti-intellectualism another theme of the book. From the book: “With the school churning out more runners, jumpers, runners, tinkerers, grabbers, thieves, flyers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, connoisseurs, and imaginative creators, the word “intellectual,” of course, became the dirty word it deserved to be. (58) Being a dystopian work, Fahrenheit 451 deals with the themes of human expression, individualism and censorship. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay While other books in the same genre tend to address the oppressive nature of government and how it destroys individuality, Bradbury chose to show how individuals can oppress themselves if properly indoctrinated. People living in the degenerate future of the book have been given everything they think they need for cultural survival, while at the same time believing that the written word is somehow evil and subversive. By giving people the tools and mindset to self-censor, the government has created a self-perpetuating society of deliberate, complacent ignorance and negligence. Seen in this light, Fahrenheit 451 becomes a cautionary tale from which we might learn a lesson. or three from, or at least stop thinking of it as simply a book about censorship – which involves government control – and look instead at its warning about a society that has been so drugged by technology and so distracted by television that they "have missed cognition of reality and independent thought, and have moved away from reading books (because they are indignant and offended by everything) and habits of thought and reflection. A relevant message from the story shows that society can become so lazy and distracted that the most important elements of an abundant life can be lost. There are two main issues that happen in the book. First, the law of the land prohibits the spread of ideas through any kind of literature; people who have them.The second problem is that people are so caught up in technology and entertainment that they don't realize that they are missing out on some valuable aspects of life, like connecting with other people. “Nobody listens anymore. I can't talk to the walls because they're screaming at me. I can't talk to my wife; listen to the walls. I just want someone to listen to what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it will all make sense... We have everything we need to be happy, but we're not happy. Something is missing. I looked around. The only thing I knew for sure that was gone were the books I had burned over ten or twelve years. So I thought books might help” (82). This passage definitely shows how this book is still relevant in our times, many people are so lazy that their mind relies on electronic entertainment over the wall. When we are completely engulfed by these electronics that offer us entertainment transferred to happiness, we do not realize the importance of other things in our lives. Although the novel is often classified as a work of science fiction, it is first and foremost a social criticism. warning against the danger of censorship. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Fahrenheit 451 uses the genre of science fiction, which enjoyed immense popularity at the time of publication..