Have you ever been faced with a two choices: the right decision or the easy decision? Almost everyone has; maybe it was whether or not to stand up to a bully, or maybe whether or not to cheat on a test. This dilemma can take many different forms and exist in many different forms of media, even literature and music. This is the case for Ray Bradbury’s novel “Fahrenheit 451” and Kesha’s song “Praying.” “Fahrenheit 451” tells the story of Guy Montag and how he realizes burning books is wrong so he has to face the rest of society to fix it, and in “Praying” the speaker realizes that she is in an abusive relationship and tries (and succeeds) to move on. In both texts, the characters realize that making the right choice isn’t always easy, but is better in the long run.

The common theme of these two texts is that you should always make the right decision, rather than what is easy. In “Fahrenheit 451” Montag is an average fireman who, just like everyone else, is ignorant of the world around him and can’t think for himself. He eventually becomes curious about why books are illegal, and his curiosity possesses him, making him stealing, and eventually reading, a book instead of burning it. After reading and trying to understand, he meets with an old man named Faber who he believes will help him to better understand what he has read. After Montag realizes that books don’t bring pain and dismay like he was told, he and Faber plan to allow others to read and see the good in literature. Before he and Faber set their trap in motion, Montag is exposed and now all his former friends are angry with him. Montag could have just apologized and served his time in jail, eventually returning to his old life, but instead he perseveres and continues his one-man campaign (Faber did help plan out the rebellion, but it was Montag who was going to supposedly do all the heavy work). Similarly, in the song “Praying” the speaker is in an abusive relationship, evident by the lines, “Told me I was nothing without you,” and, “You brought the flames.” The speaker then realizes that she has to move on, and she does evident by the line, “And I don’t need you, I’ve found a strength I’ve never known.” In both stories, Characters realize they were wrong and seek to fix the mistakes they made.

One major difference between “Fahrenheit 451” and “Praying” is that in “Fahrenheit 451,” Montag realizes that society is wrong and that it needs to be fixed, while the speaker realizes she was wrong and needs to move on. Montag is trying to fix the world he lives in, while the speaker is trying to fix herself. Montag’s conflict is more external while the speaker’s conflict is more internal. While being different in approach, both texts almost build off each other to reach the common theme. “Fahrenheit 451” shows that you can make an impact by standing up for what’s right in your community, and “Praying” shows that you can make an impact on yourself by making the right choice for yourself. In both texts, both characters have to overcome an obstacle and both characters are faced with an easier, but wrong, choice out of their problems. Montag is faced with everyone he’s known who think books are evil, and Montag could have just continued believing that lie instead of seeking to change their opinion. Even though Montag does not complete his goal during the novel, it is easy to infer that he is much happier with his new life. The speaker is faced with an abusive relationship and having to face the possibility of being alone, and she could have just stayed in the relationship, but instead she moves on and finds out she is much happier without her abuser, and even becoming stronger because of the toxic relationship. This is evident by the line, “Oh, but after everything you’ve done, I can thank you for how strong I have become.” Both characters overcame their obstacles for the greater good.

Both “Fahrenheit 451” and “Praying” stress the importance of making the right decision, even if it is not always the easiest decision to make. After a careful analysis of both texts, it is clear that this choice isn’t exclusive to one scenario or another, but that this life-advice can apply to choices we make every day. We can take the easy way out of our problems and learn to live with them, or, like characters in both texts, overcome our obstacles and make the right decision. As true for both characters in both texts, making the right choice will lead to true happiness.