The Power of Words

Possibly my favorite book is Fahrenheit 451. It not only has a great storyline, but it also influenced/enhanced the way I viewed literature. In Fahrenheit 451, the world (or at least America) is a very different place. Televisions cover entire walls, people drive at insane speeds, and people are basically fed their information and beliefs. The most prominent aspect of this story, however, is the role of "firemen." These firemen do not extinguish fires; the role of these men is to burn any books that are found. In the world presented by Ray Bradbury, owning and reading books is prohibited by law. Essentially, people of this world do not think for themselves (or think at all). The story follows a fireman who becomes curious about books after a shocking encounter with an old woman. Unwilling to be separated from her Bible, she is burned along with the books she owns. His curiosity builds until he takes one of the books from a raid for himself. Through reading and his newly-developed ability to think, he is finally able to see what the world has become. More shocking events follow in light of his decisions and the state of the world.

This is a very rough summary of the book, and does not do it justice (understandable as the last and only time I've read it was over four years ago). However, it gave me a very strong view of the power of the written word, and in the case of Fahrenheit 451, the unread word.

The unread word carries with it a destructive power. Its limiting power withholds knowledge and squashes free thinking. Without the words of others, one does not have a base from which to jump. This is what I think of when I think of the unopened book.

The unopened book, the unread word - they are one and the same. The unread word, in relation to the "non-reader," might as well have never been written. The unopened book contains blank pages. Knowledge unheeded is nearly worthless, but knowledge unheard is no knowledge at all. This is why reading is so critical to the critical mind. It opens sealed books. It unleashes ideals, feelings, and histories. I wonder what might have happened had I not read some of the books I have read. Would I think the same, feel the same? Would I know the things I know? Would I be me at all? So I strive to open unopened books.

Even more destructive than the unopened book/unread word are the unwritten word and untold story. It is more dangerous because of the scope of its effect. Think of the most powerful and influential writings. What would have been the effect an absence of those words? It wipes out ideals, thoughts, and memories, not simply from an individual, but from all of humanity. Had Abraham not written/spoken his Gettysburg Address, what would have been the effect on all writings to follow?

When thoughts and ideas float through an thinker's mind, what will be the effect if he does not write them down? The unwritten book, the untold story - each affect both the thinker/teller and the hearer/reader. The unwritten book affects the thinker, because he is not able to make his thoughts concrete. The teller is not able to learn and grow through the telling of his story. The hearer and reader is derived of the wisdom and experience the book or story has to offer, and he is unable to grow because of this.

Unfortunately, I struggle with the unwritten word. Hopefully, this will do away with a little of that illness. Sorry if this seems like rambling. Sometimes it's difficult to reign in the thoughts in my head into something comprehensible. But it's a start, eh?



Random Question of the Day: How do you pronounce 'pajamas'? I am split between puh-ja-muhs and puh-jah-muhs. However, I had a Peanuts computer game years ago, and Charlie Brown used the latter pronunciation. I'm inclined to believe Charlie Brown.