LITERARY

CRITICISM
FAHRENHEIT 451
BY RAY BRADBURY

GROUP MEMBER

Wan Nur Bisyarah binti

Syamsudin (203980)

Siti Hawa binti Hussin

(203178)

Ummi Zayani Binti

Zamratul Rahman (203356)

Risa Sabrina binti Ramli

(203081)
CONTENTS
PAGE 3
FAHRENHEIT 451 SUMMARY

PAGE 4
FEMINIST CRITICISM

PAGE 5
LOGICAL CONNECTION
(IN GENERAL) BETWEEN
FAHRENHEIT 451 & FEMINIST
CRITICISM

PAGE 6-8
CONCEPTS OF FEMINIST CRITICISM
PATRIARCHY
GENDER INEQUALITY
FEMALE GENDER STEREOTYPES

PAGE 9-11
CONCLUSION

PAGE 12-13
REFERENCE

F A H R E N H E I T 4 5 1
 SUMMARY

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury, an American writer. The
novel tells about a future American society where books are banned and the books that
are found will be burned by firemen. In the world, firemen start fires rather than
putting them out; destroying and burning printed book, along the houses in where
they are discovered. The novel tells the story of Guy Montag, who works as a fireman
and enjoys his job. Montag never questions his jobs until he encounters his eccentric
young neighbor, Clarisse who opens his eyes to the emptiness of his life with her
incessant questions and her love for nature and watching people. She mentions a past
where people didn’t live in fear; where the firemen used to put out fire. She
enlightens Montag about the idea of a reading books and learning from them, After a
series of incident; which is Montag's wife, Mildred attempting suicide and the death of
a women who choose to be burned with her books, Montag begins to question his life.
A few days later, he hears about Clarisse's death who has been killed by a speeding car.

Montag’s dissatisfaction with his life increases, and he starts to search for answers in a
stash of books that he has stolen. Montag begins to question the book-burning policy
and he searches for an English professor, Faber who he have meet briefly in the past.
He asks Faber to teach him to understand books, and Faber agrees. However, Captain
Beatty finds out about the stolen books because Mildred and few of his neighbour
reported about him. Montag was ordered to burn his own house down, but later burns
Beatty to death and attacks his fellow firemen. Montag rans away to escape the
authority and he eventually come across other runaways and he decides to commit
himself to the preservation of literary and cultural writings. As Montag studies with
them, bombers fly overhead and drop nuclear bombs on the city. Afterward the men
head back to the city to help rebuild society with their memorized wisdom.
 FEMINIST CRITICISM
Feminist criticism is a form of literary criticism that is based on the
feminist theory and is concerned with "the ways in which literature (and
other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic,
political, social, and psychological oppression of women" (Tyson, 2012,
p.83). Feminist criticism only began to emerge in literature in the late
1960s. Feminist criticism intends to break negative female stereotypes in
books written by male author and patriarchy in literature itself. Simone
de Beauvoir (1949) explained that a person is not born feminine as defines
by the society but rather by the cultural conditioning. The take of canon
in literature typically written by males often paints women character as
subordinated to men character and feminist aims to change this by
reinterpret works in traditional canon and redefining canon.

Some feminist criticism key books are Mary Wollstonecraft's "A

Vindication of the Rights of Women" (1792), Geoffrey Chaucer's "Wife of
Bath", Marry Ellman's "Thinking About Women" (1968) and Kate Millet's
"Sexual Politics" (1969). Ellman, Millet and Germaine Greer played an
important role in raising questions about the practice of showing
feminism in both contemporary and canon literature. Feminist criticism
is applied to literature works by analyzing characters' portrayals, the
text's language and diction, the author's attitude, and the inter-character
relationships. The author's view and commentary about society as a
whole is also considered by the critics.

Example of few common concepts that are

discussed in Feminist Criticism are social
construction of gender, patriarchy, gender
binarism, gender inequality, hagemonic,
masculinity, subversion of gender, toxic
masculinity, gender representation, and
the othering of women.
 LOGICAL CONNECTION
(IN GENERAL)
FAHRENHEIT 451 & FEMINIST
CRITICISM

Fahrenheit 451 is a book written by Ray Bradbury that review one of

the most crucial literary criticism which is feminism. How does this
literary criticism is relevant to the novel?

As of today, in literature, there are always have the issues of gender

stereotypes and representation in the story written that women have
no rights as men because man is putting his views on the woman that
she doesn’t have any importance or good qualification. It is harsh to
see how men are always superior to women as could put women down
to the heart that no matter what they will always be under men. In the
novel Fahrenheit 451, there are only five women mentioned in the
novel and they just have a little role. The women in this novel did not
have to protest or struggle for the books being burned or not (as the
main issue of the novel) and they do not emerged too often for every
scene of the novel. For the feminist criticism, Bradbury have make the
women as a subtle reminder of the importance of women
representation in literature.

Thus, this zine will discuss or provide feminist criticism from three
concept :

1. Patriarchy
2. Gender Inequality
3. Female Gender Stereotypes
In the novel Fahrenheit 451, the author
addresses and criticizes on patriarchy in
which men roles in the novel are a stark
contrast to women. Fahrenheit 451 is a
very male oriented and dominated novel
in which there is only few women in the
story (for example: Mildred Montag, Mrs.
Ann Bowles and Mrs. Clara Phelps) and
they are only regarded as side characters
who plays no major roles in the novel
meanwhile the important characters; the
main antagonist, protagonist and the
rebels are all formed by men. As
observed in the novel, Clarisse is the
only female character that truly
The concept of patriarchy also involves
impacted the main character, Montag.
violence act by males in order to assert
While Mildred and Montag are reading
dominance and the issue of patriarchy
the stolen books, Clarisse's profound
in the novel is further emphasized in
influence on Montag becomes obvious.
Montag’s treatment towards Mildred
In fact, Montag points out that "She was
and her friends. He is
the first person I can remember who
clearly not above verbal and physical
looked straight at me as if I counted”
abuse as he is seen threatening to
(p.68). However, even though Clarisse is
knock Mildred and her friends down
the key for Montag character
and kick them out the door. He is also
development, she perishes after having
seen to act violently towards Mildred
served her function.
as evidenced when he takes hold of
Mildred and slapping her across the
face when she freaks out upon seeing
books in her house.

In general, women are oppressed and

marginalized in this book. Men
characters in the book hold power and
control and are portrayed as superior
than women. Thus, patriarchy in the
novel is shown by the male characters
majority and their mistreatment
towards women.
 In Fahrenheit 451, the author exhibits
a criticism on the establishment of
gender inequality in the social
construct between the main character,
Guy Montag, and his wife, Mildred
Montag.

From the story, it is proven that

there is gender inequality whereby it
conveys discrepancy, unequal
treatment, and perception between
men and women. Guy Montag is
initially presented as a masculine man
through having a rough job that
includes physical power. Thus, this is
what men are supposedly and expected Throughout the story, Montag being
to do as a solo provider of the family. examined as a tough man with mental
Concurrently, it contrasts with Mildred and physical strength. He takes pride in
that plays the stereotypical gender role his work with the fire department along
as a housewife. Traditionally, society with his team members. They were
viewed women as caring and nurturing. responsible for burning down the
From that perception, they only get undesirable book to show their job and
fewer opportunities to reach their responsibility. In contrast with Mildred
potential; hence, they are only (Montag’s wife), the female role
considered to be caretaker of their portrayed in the novel that spends her
home. whole life lingering at home. Mildred
doesn’t aim for anything in her life
except watching the television in the
parlor and listening to her ‘Seashell ear
-thimbles’. Even though Mildred
doesn’t show the expected duty side as
a housewife, we can see that women in
this community didn’t have any job and
have no right to say anything. They
carry on with their life by repeating the
same daily routine and task within the
boundary walls of their homes.
 In Fahrenheit 451, traditional female
gender stereotypes is criticized by the
author, in which discussing the
juxtaposition of Mildred's weakness and
frivolousness against Clarisse's confidence
and intelligence provides proof that
Clarisse defeats the female stereotype
through her detachment from the
oppressive society.

In the novel, Mildred Montag is a kind

of woman who follows the female gender Female gender stereotypes also can
stereotype in which she spends her time be seen through Mildred Montag in
mostly at home by immersing herself in the which she is not outspoken, never asks
technological gadgets of the age, such as
question and is a part of society that
follows and obeys the government’s rules
her television walls and seashell radios,
and regulations. For example on
doing house chores, and talking to her
Fahrenheit 451, Montag tries to persuade
neighbors. Meanwhile , Clarisse McClellan
her to join him in pursuing a better life
challenged female gender stereotypes in
through books, she reacts in fear,
which she completely contrasted Mildred’s
because books are illegal and against the
traditional female gender stereotypes. She laws. On the contrary, Clarisse
represents the antithesis of Mildred challenges female gender stereotypes in
because she has no taste for the advanced which she is an inquisitive and smart
technology that Mildred is dependent on. person that asks many questions and
She loves to go out and explore the world, wants to know everything. For example,
be free walking on streets at night, on Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse McClellan
watching people, enjoying nature such as asks Montag, “Do you ever read any of
looking at the moon, playing with the the books you burn?” (p.24). This is
flowers, and smelling the leaves. important, since it is showing how much
Clarisse is curious about things and
thinks out of the box. Clarisse is the first
to encourage Montag on his path to self-
awareness about his job and life in which
this things shows that Clarisse is a
dependent girl and open-minded. For
example, on Fahrenheit 451, She asks
Montag questions about his job such as
"How did you happen to think to take the
job you have? " (p.44) and "Are you
happy? " (p.26) which makes Montag
question his job as a fireman and his own
life.
 THE
CONCLUSION

OVERALL

To sum up everything that has been stated so far,

overall, the novel Fahrenheit 415 established feminist
criticism in the story. After read up on novel and check
out the three concepts which are gender inequality,
patriarchy and female gender stereotypes, we are
maintaining believe that the text of the novel
Fahrenheit 415 by Ray Bradbury is in line with the
feminist criticism. It is illustrated and interpreted on
where men roles in the novel are a stark contrast to
women which men are portrayed as superior than
woman. Other than that, the concept of gender
inequality in social construct pop out in the novel
whereby it conveys discrepancy, unequal treatment
and perception between men and women that express
obviously between the main character, Guy Montag and
his wife. Next, the novel also shows that there is
woman who keep following the nature of their life, the
nature of their own gender meanwhile on the other
hand, there is woman who in opposition to it. Against
the naturality, in order to firmly stand and belief with
what she thought were rights in her life. Hence, we be
of the point that Ray Bradbury trying to put in the
feminist criticism in his work as -he keeps in touch the
- 0 2

topic that linked with the female and male either it is

by explicit or implicit ways.
 REFLECTION

From the literary criticism, feminist criticism

of the novel Fahrenheit 415 by Ray Bradbury
that we need to work upon on, there were
some reflections that feel and noticed by us.
After scrutinizing this novel, it crystal clear
that women characters were downgraded and
taken lightly by the author when the men
characters are more stand out than the
women. If it does exist though, they are side
characters and get violence in order to fulfil
men’s lust and need. This actually made us
feel dissatisfied since that we are women that
trying to fit in the women character’s shoes in
order to understand the novel better.

Other than that, the novel also portrayed the

concept that man have a good role, noble
works, have a clear aim in life meanwhile the
female characters applied with laziness,
jobless and didn’t have any right in their life.
We feel a bit displeased because it will make
the people thinks that every time when it
comes to female and male things, their
perception are men are good than women and
women can’t do anything because everything
depends on men.
 From what we learn, Feminist Criticism concerned
with the ways in which literature (and other cultural
ISLAMIC productions) reinforce or undermine the economic,

VIEWPOINT political, social, and psychological oppression of

women. Fortunately, in Islam a woman has a high
status and respectability in the society. All these
were done to lift women, to glorify them, to grant
them full rights, to remove their suffering, and to
save them from adversity, abjection, ruction and
lowness, sexism, violence, and all the horrible things
that had ever happened to them A woman is the
significant other, a soulmate for a man. She was
created by God in a very distinct nature of feminine,
gentle and physically soft compared to a man. The
most dominant one is that she possesses deep
powerful feeling and emotion, patience, and a soft
spirit. It is one of the wisdoms on why it is women
who should bear the burden in nurturing the
children, as a very significant role in the household,
tending to her husband and so on and not a man.
Other than that, even though in our daily life women
are sometimes being treated differently, however in
Islam, in the sight of God, men and women are
spiritual equals and are expected to perform the
same duties of worship, prayer, faith, almsgiving,
fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. From all the
guidance given in the Quran, women and men are
completely responsible. It shows clearly that both
have the same obligations towards the creator of the
universe and the same rewards. Both women and men
have their own equal-rights. Hence, even though male
and female are physically and mentally different but
actually we are same in the side of Allah S.W.T.
 W O R K S C I T E D

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