Authority Vs Individuality

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burn the books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness.
The two main themes in this novel are Social change and the banning of books to stop inequality and Individualism.
One of the changes the Authority is responsible in this novel is Social change. Their main purpose is to not let the individual think alone. The Authority does this by giving individuals no time to think, as captain Beatty puts it:
‘Give them zippers instead of buttons’ (pg 63)
Clarisee also says in School, children are given fun activities, are blasted with useless facts and information, and given no time to ask questions.
In the world of Fahrenheit 451 the books are banned. Figures of Authority believe that books create inequality by creating an educated class:
‘We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other…’(pg 65)
Books present readers with conflicting views, thus causing ...

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sea’s deceitful, boy: calm above, and underneath, a world of gliding monsters preying on their fellows. Murderers, all of them. Only the sharpest teeth survive.’( pg 19)
Claggart uses metaphors like the one above to scare or warn Billy away from himself but unfortunately Billy is unable to interpret the metaphors.
Captain Vere is the authority of the ship, however he has superior officers:
‘By authority of his Gracious Majesty George Rex and Alan Napier, Viscount Kelsey, First Sea Lord’(pg 69)
The above quote shows the supreme authority figures. Vere is a man who believes in rules, regulations, and procedure. In his opinion, everything must be done according to instruction. ...

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