Fahrenheit 451

In the US, we measure temperature using the Fahrenheit scale. Fahrenheit = 9/5Celsius + 32. That means that water freezes at 32ºF and boils at 212ºF. Body temperature is 96.8ºF. To give you a general idea of average seasonal temperatures, in New York City, the average high in July is 84ºF (29ºC) while the average low in January is  25ºF (-4ºC).

And paper burns at 451ºF, inspiring the name of Ray Bradbury’s futuristic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451. If you click on the poster below, you can watch a video montage of the movie based on the book. Further below is the dialog that appears in the video.

http://youtu.be/M9n98SXNGl8

Woman: Is it true that a long time ago, firemen put out fires and not burn books.

Fireman 1: Oh really! Your uncle is right, you are light in the head! Put fires out! Who told you that?

Woman: Oh, I don’t know, someone. But is it true? Did they?

Fireman 1: What a strange idea!

Woman: Tell me, that number you all wear, what’s it mean?

Fireman 1: Oh, Fahrenheit 4-5-1

Woman: Why 4-5-1 rather than 8-1-3…

Fireman 1: Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper catches fire and starts to burn.

Fireman 2: There’s nothing there. The books have nothing to say! All those people that never existed. People that read them, it makes them unhappy with their own lives, it makes them want to live in other ways that can never really be.

Fireman 2: All this philosophy, let’s get rid of it. It’s even worse than the novels. Thinkers, philosophers, all of them saying exactly the same thing, “Only I am right! The others are all idiots!”

Fireman 2: It’s no good, we’ve all got to be alike. The only way to be happy is for everybody to made equal. So, we must burn the books. All the books!

Woman: You ever read the books you burn?

Fireman 1: Why should I? First, I’m not into it. And second, I’ve got better things to do. And third, it is forbidden.

Fireman 1: You’re nothing but zombies, all of you! Just like those husbands of yours, you don’t know anymore. You’re not living, you’re just killing time!

Fireman 2: What do you think you’re doing?! There’s no need for that!