Ray Bradbury uses extensive societal references through characters and events in his novel, Fahrenheit 451, to make a statement about the status of society in the 1940’s and 50’s. Through viewing this novel with a historical and marxist perspective it is clear that the economic infrastructure and material absent minded nature of the minor characters reflects the events of the 1940’s and 50’s. This perspective also reveals how the opposing attitudes of major characters toward the destructive society reflects Ray Bradbury’s interpretation of the real world. A historical lense is best defined as: “Historical literary criticism focuses mainly on the subject's relevance, relationship with, and influence upon the historical period in which it was…show more content… The marxist lense is best defined as: “The set of beliefs, values, attitudes, and ideas that constitutes the consciousness of this class forms an ideological superstructure, and this ideological superstructure is shaped and determined by the material infrastructure or economic base.” (Brown et al, 1997) The marxist lense is clearly visible in Bradbury’s use of social classes and morals of characters. The upper class in Fahrenheit 451 is described to be very reckless, apathetic, and self-centered. The lower class is described so that they are sympathized by the reader. This is accomplished by making the current society is against the lower class, who can improve society. The lower class also exhibits qualities of strong values of leadership, purpose, and sensibility. A prime example of the upper class being self centered is: “Mildred stood over his bed, curiously. He felt her there, he saw her without opening his eyes, her hair burnt by chemicals to a brittle straw, her eyes with a kind of cataract unseen but suspect far behind the pupils, the reddened pouting lips, the body as thin as a praying mantis from dieting, and her flesh like white bacon” (Bradbury 45). Mildred is described to be so self-absorbed in making herself acceptable in the society that she has failed to see how it has made her ugly, both inside and
