One book that I think is exemplary of writing with a theme conveyed through the characters is “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. Ray Bradbury wrote his tale in the 1950s, and even then he was able to grasp the problems that not many others saw coming.
The superficial society which Ray Bradbury created in his fictional story seems as though it is indeed a reality. He touched on the most controversial issues and presented them from the mind of the main character, Guy Montag.
Guy was a firefighter and firefighters burned books. He was unknowingly part of the governments elaborate scheme that suppressed knowledge and made everyone think and act the same way so as not to create tension or controversy of personal ideas. This only resulted in the ignorance of the society as a whole. Bradbury allowed Guy to see the books and their knowledge which he had been destroying, and that planted the mustard seed of Guy’s spiritual rebirth. Guy realized that the society was thriving on an excess of stimulation and therefore creating an utterly empty society. Those within this society, including Guy’s wife Mildred, regularly attempted suicide and were unhappy. Bradbury used Mildred as character who portrayed the fall of society as a whole. Mildred represented the emptiness of the culture which stemmed from the abortions, the “fake” war, the virtual family, and the constant throng of media “junk” thrown in their faces; all of which led to suicides, ignorance, murders and recklessness.
Bradbury also presented characters who thought for themselves and did not comply with the ignorance of society. One such character was a professor which Guy met named Faber. Together Guy and Faber wanted to deplete the ignorance of the firefighters and therefore of society as a whole by planting reprinted books within the firefighters homes.
Ray Bradbury presented and amazing bridge between the truth and freedom of Christianity’s teachings verses the utter slavery of the modern superficial society. After Montag’s realization of the society’s weakness and ignorance he created an utter contempt for society. Faber acted as the mediator and showed Montag that he must have compassion and not loathe them because Montag used to be just the same. In the end Montag not so much flees the society as he was driven out. The city is ultimately burned. Through the burning of the city the mustard seed sprouted into the bush and there came Montag’s spiritual resurrection. All that was burned with the city was gone and he started anew. Montag realized that he must not only hold the knowledge that had been given to him through books,but also pass it on correctly. The intellectuals which he encountered on the railroad tracks memorized books so that they may be passed on. Guy was given the book of Ecclesiastes tomemorize. The book of Ecclesiastes shows the vanity of wisdom, knowledge and pleasure when used in the unnatural ways. It shows the vanity of knowledge and the virtuous pursuit of truth and wisdom within the truth. Bradbury had Guy memorize this specific part of the bible at the end not only to show that Guy must spread knowledge; but to show the truth inknowledge and the virtues you may gain in obtaining and pursuing that truth.
Bradbury showed the characters not just as men and women aimlessly following the government’s teachings within the corrupted society, but the morals which they represent and act upon are personified through these characters. Mildred represented the society’s emptiness as a whole and therefore represented the spiritual deadness of the modern society. The Christian themes and meanings were not directly stated into words. They were brought about by the actions of the characters and the symbolism woven into major events of the story. Ray Bradbury did not just write a story for fun that was intended to be read carelessly. He wrote a story that paralleled our modern society and showed virtuous people that wereable to rise from the ashes of the corrupted society in order to spread not just knowledge but the wisdom of the truth. It is the truth which depletes the ignorance in society and allows those who read the words of the philosophers and of God to obtain the ultimate wisdom that will enable them to be closer to God.
