Everyone has a strong opinion about things and people, and struggle with getting their point across. That applies to a controversial topic, a heartbreak and your trying to get over the person, and many more. Both Ray Bradbury in his novel “Fahrenheit 451” and Kesha in her song “Praying, describe the feeling of having to get your point across, but finally getting over that struggle and recovering emotionally. Even though the road to recovering may seem like a long, dreadful process, it’s worth it in the end, which is when you finally feel free and happy about your life. In “Fahrenheit 451,” Guy Montag is struggling to prove to others that books aren’t so bad after all, but is constantly shut down by the people around him.  He keeps trying and trying, but matters get even worse when people start to think that he’s becoming insane. After numerous tries, he finally takes action, leaving his town and venturing to a finally peaceful future that awaits him. Similarly, in “Praying,” the speaker wants to get her point across that she is over a painful relationship, but is discouraged by whoever was in the relationship with the speaker. In both texts we learn that it’s better to move and take action, rather than living in the past.

A common theme in both texts is that you can recover from past pain with self-confidence and a strong motive. In “Praying,” the speaker describes how she is finally over that pain the she felt and is now feeling more sure and positive about herself. In the song it states,” And I don’t need you, I found a strength I’ve never known.” This shows that the speaker has gotten over her pain and found the self-confidence she has been burying deep inside herself for a long time.  In “Fahrenheit 451,” the author shows how Guy Montag has disregarded the negative influences in his life and has finally lived in peace and not in fear of the unknown. In the novel, it states, ‘Yes, thought Montag, that’s the one I’ll save for noon…. When we reach the city.” This takes place in the very end of the book, where Montag is about to reach the city. He can finally read without being penalized. Which is why it mentions, ‘..the one I’ll save for noon.” He is saving a piece of a book he is about to read later. In the past, Montag couldn’t do such a thing like that, but now he’s free to do so.

Although both texts share a common theme, they both have their differences also. In “Praying,” the speaker describes an emotional battle with one person in particular. Meanwhile in “Fahrenheit 451,” the author describes how the main character is having a metaphorical battle with society. Although the themes are similar, they are used in slightly different ways.  In ,”Fahrenheit 451,” Ray Bradbury shows how Montag is trying to get over the fact that books are illegal and that imagination is limited. He can’t even be seen with a book in his possession or else there will be huge consequences. The most feared consequence of this is, being forced to burn down your own house, or where the books are kept. And if you burn down your house, you’re most likely going to end up homeless, which is why no one ever dared to rebel against the law. Everyone except Montag. In contrast, in “Praying,” Kesha describes how she is trying to get over a past relationship. Based on the tone and description of the song, Kesha was at a low point in her life, because of whoever was In the relationship with her. That person made her feel like she was a nobody. In the song, it states,” You brought me the flames and you put me through hell.” This shows how the Kesha felt about the relationship and how much it impacted her, emotionally.

In both “Praying,” and “Fahrenheit 451,” Kesha and Ray Bradbury show how recovering from past pain and taking charge of your life, can actually result in positivity, self-confidence and a healthy state of mind. After reading and analyzing both pieces of text, readers can realize that although you may be going through a tough time in your life, that shouldn’t stop you from living your life happily, rather than living in sorrow. Because if you do that, you’ll just end up hurting yourself, which could make things even worse than it already was. Just find happiness and live your life the way it was meant to be lived.