In Bradbury's dystopian society, the government censors literature in order to maintain stability and create a "happy" populace, which is utterly consumed by mindless entertainment and lacks emotional depth. The censorship of literature results in a violent and superficial society which lacks the ability to analyze its dangerous actions, eventually leading to its destruction at the end of the novel.
Montag's wife embodies the superficial, ignorant citizens of Bradbury's dystopian society, and she attempts to commit suicide. Her callous, shallow personality ruins her marriage and she fails to live a fulfilling life.
Faber argues that without literature or other forms of media that authentically replicate and examine humanity, people will fail to have meaningful relationships, experience peace of mind, or find the motivation to positively alter their society for the better. Granger also argues that without literature, people will have no record of the past and continue to repeat their tragic mistakes.
Overall, the censorship laws prevent individuals from engaging in intellectual pursuits and create a callous, uninformed population.
Censorship is dangerous for three reasons: first, it dehumanizes people and makes them unhappy; second, it creates a whole new class of criminality; and third, it makes it difficult for society as a whole to advance.
Because books are banned and the content on television is dumbed down and silly, people lead uninteresting and superficial lives. This leads to a quiet desperation: people's minds and souls are not being challenged or fed. The prime example of this kind of sadness in the novel is Mildred, who attempts suicide in the early pages of the story. But Montag himself has also become numbed by his society. All it takes is a simple conversation with Clarisse, who really listens to and is interested in him, to ignite his discontent with his life.
Since books are banned, people are starved for the content that the written word once offered. They defy the law in order to feed their minds by reading. Suddenly, an innocent occupation has become a dangerous criminal activity.
Finally, because people are no longer developing their intellectual capacity, the society as a whole has become stagnant. It finally ends up destroyed in a nuclear war.
Throughout Fahrenheit 451, the idea of censorship and its consequential dangers is often brought about. In the futuristic dystopian society of Bradbury's novel, literature and all books are banned completely. Firemen have taken the responsibility of starting fires rather than putting them out, with the main focus of their arson being literature and homes that contain it.
Where does the danger of this censorship come in? Montag begins to feel disconnected from his empty, alienated life once he meets Clarisse and is introduced to the idea that literature is not the evil that it is made out to be. Additionally, his marriage with his wife is shallow and lacking true love.
Later, upon meeting Faber, an old professor with whom he had a chance encounter with years ago, Montag is further introduced to the idea that literature contains something invaluable; censoring this something, Montag begins to realize, would be immoral.
With literature banned, people are forced into discussing trivial nonsense, such as the interactive soap operas that play incessantly on television. Relationships become generally void of anything worthwhile, considering there is no dialogue to be had about anything important. As Faber and Montag would suggest, it's not necessarily the books themselves that are important but the ideas that they contain. A government can ban a book, but can they ban the ideas? While a physical object such as a book can be banned, the words themselves are more difficult to get rid of entirely.
Censorship is dangerous because of the powerlessness it imposes upon people; power is given to faceless entities who deem certain words, ideas, or thoughts impure or immoral. People, however, have the right to say and think what they choose, and by communicating freely, they are given tremendous power.
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