451

Globally and historically conquerors have sought to eradicate the beliefs, histories and knowledge of the conquered indigenous people and instill their own by destroying stone tablets, scrolls and books. Sadly this has worked since much historical cultural knowledge of many communities has been lost forever. For me this poem reminds of this. Milly x

This for me is interesting because although it starts off about the burning temperature of paper I felt that it has so much more depth to it than that. The references to "Only 10 percent will know what I am referring to immediately adds importance to 'keeping expectations low and nothing more than 5%. To me it revealed that the 451 degrees wasn't just about paper but more likely about people. It brought to mind the book burnings of the war. To burn books is depriving the people of education, knowledge and the arts. It made me think about so many people who have been deprived knowledge and freedom in an effort to control them. 'They say that it's ok but the truth is that it will never be that way again' Even if people are rescued from a tyrant just a single generation being deprived of its culture ensures that those people will never be the same again. For a race to lose who they are is to lose their identity and that of their forefathers. An enjoyable, thought provoking piece. Milly x

Interesting!! You must have seen the movie, even though your point is totally different to the one they make.