Posthumanist Reading of Fahrenheit 451: A Critique of Human Ideals in Dystopian Context

Abstract

This article tries examines Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 through the lens of posthumanist discourse, contrasting the philosophical ideals of humanism and posthumanism in a dystopian context. The novel presents a critique of dehumanisation and the erosion of critical thinking. Ray Bradbury represents humanist values through characters like Clarisse McClellan and Faber. In contrast to them, characters like Beatty and Mildred Montag represent posthumanist ideals. Guy Montag serves as a bridge between these two ideologies and highlighting the tension between posthumanist and humanist experience. The article suggests that Fahrenheit 451 serves as an alarming tale, urging a return to core humanist ideals in order to preserve the essence of humanity in an increasingly technologised world.