In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury presents a recurring theme that individual activism can combat government oppression. An allusion is a literary device in which the writer refers to another work or author, and Bradbury draws on this to show relationships between books and make connections to history and literary heritage. Bradbury uses allusions to Mahatma Gandhi, Walt Whitman, and Edna St. Vincent Millay to demonstrate how many great people took a stand and went against common beliefs. Like Guy Montag, the novel's protagonist, these characters had to fight against the tide with rare ardor even though they were mostly alone. They prove how sacrifice and speaking up benefits others, even if it takes time for them to see a different point of view. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Mahatma Gandhi, born in 1869, was a well-known and admired peace activist. In South Africa, he attempted to end discrimination against the Indian minority; later, he succeeded in passing a law to end this discrimination. Once back in India, he worked for India to gain independence from Britain. He believed in self-governing countries and feared British influence on Indian culture and life. Even though he didn't succeed, he remained hopeful and started working in India. He worked diligently to end Hindu-Muslim hatred and abolish the caste system. Even though Gandhi used peaceful methods like hunger strikes, a fanatical Hindu, angry at Gandhi's passivity towards Muslims, assassinated him. Gandhi embodies the ideal of empathy and equality: “We're all in it, Montag. Aristophanes and Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha…” (Bradbury 151). Bradbury uses Gandhi to emphasize the variety of works people know from the book. Gandhi relates to the theme which, for this section, is that books and other published works can never be forgotten, because they remain in the memory throughout Gandhi's life and those of the people he touched. Pushing for necessary changes and showing courage is part of the timeline: “No, nothing is ever lost…It will come when we need it” (Bradbury 151). Here, Bradbury shows us that even if we don't remember books or similar items on command, they are still there in our minds, waiting to be retrieved. Gandhi works well as an allusion because Gandhi was remembered long after his life through other people, just as books were remembered by people and recounted orally until they were written down. Walt Whitman is considered one of the greatest American poets because he changed the way poetry was written using free verse, exposing his love for everything from leaves to sex to Lincoln. He was also an abolitionist who wrote passionately about politics. Whitman died of a stroke in 1892 after living an exemplary life; Few can say they have embraced the wonders of nature and humanity as much as he has. Perhaps his most famous work is “O Captain! My captain! which deals with the death of President Lincoln. Whitman struggled to get his work published and recognized, but he never backed down or changed his verse. Bradbury uses Whitman to explain that books that are burned are burned because the authors write about subjects that are not considered enjoyable or.