Imagine a world where people are so absorbed by technology that they are unable to maintain a conversation with a friend or family member. Maybe in today’s world this is not such a wild concept. The world of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian society where people have been numbed almost completely to themselves and their surroundings. No one realizes the consequences of their actions because they prefer to be satisfied with their dull, repetitive, and violent lifestyles. Fahrenheit 451 has a message that rings clear today: The quality of society is endangered by technology, conformity, and violence. Technology leads to incredible discoveries, but as illustrated by Ray Bradbury, its consequences are just as drastic. The best example
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One of the main reasons that Clarisse is so vital to Montag’s transformation is because of her uniqueness. Clarisse is a round peg in a world of square holes, and she recognizes and celebrates this fact, challenging the opinions of the society. She argues against her classification as antisocial: “I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn’t it?” (Bradbury 26). Clarisse believes in being social by having conversations and sharing opinions as opposed to the more acceptable belief that being social is sitting in a room together with no words exchanged. Clarisse also openly contemplates the meaning of happiness. In Farenheit 451, it is generally recognized that everyone is happy. However, this is not a happiness of joy and bliss, but a level of contentment. It is a world void of feelings, but everyone genuinely believes they are happy. No one has anything to contribute to the world or leave behind. Most people don’t even love their own children. Faber warns Montag of Captain Beatty and expresses the conformity of their society: “But remember that the captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority. Oh God, the terrible tyranny of the majority” (Bradbury 104). Bradbury accurately compares the population to a mass of cattle. There is no movement unless everyone moves together, milling around mindlessly with no goals or …show more content…
Violence is viewed by the society as a way to relieve anger and stress. When Montag is feeling overwhelmed, Mildred offers a suggestion to make him feel better: “The keys to the beetle are on the night table. I always like to drive fast when I feel that way. It’s fun out in the country. You hit rabbits, sometimes you hit dogs” (Bradbury 61). Montag is treated similarly to a crossing animal when a pack of teenagers drives by while he is crossing the road. The rowdy car swerves out of their way in an attempt to kill Montag for sport. The population has no sense of the value of a life, animal or human. This lack of consideration towards life is due to the violence people have become accustomed too. There have been nuclear wars and regular firefighter appearances that leave houses and literature in ashes. After listening to Mildred’s ignorant friends devalue life, Montag has an outburst: “Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, and think of the dozens of abortions you’ve had” (Bradbury 98). He can no longer withstand his rage towards the oblivious women. They speak of their husband’s jeopardized lives with ease and their past abortions inconsequentially and with no attachment. It could be debated that we live in a violent world where killings are
One of the main reasons that Clarisse is so vital to Montag’s transformation is because of her uniqueness. Clarisse is a round peg in a world of square holes, and she recognizes and celebrates this fact, challenging the opinions of the society. She argues against her classification as antisocial: “I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn’t it?” (Bradbury 26). Clarisse believes in being social by having conversations and sharing opinions as opposed to the more acceptable belief that being social is sitting in a room together with no words exchanged. Clarisse also openly contemplates the meaning of happiness. In Farenheit 451, it is generally recognized that everyone is happy. However, this is not a happiness of joy and bliss, but a level of contentment. It is a world void of feelings, but everyone genuinely believes they are happy. No one has anything to contribute to the world or leave behind. Most people don’t even love their own children. Faber warns Montag of Captain Beatty and expresses the conformity of their society: “But remember that the captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority. Oh God, the terrible tyranny of the majority” (Bradbury 104). Bradbury accurately compares the population to a mass of cattle. There is no movement unless everyone moves together, milling around mindlessly with no goals or …show more content…
Violence is viewed by the society as a way to relieve anger and stress. When Montag is feeling overwhelmed, Mildred offers a suggestion to make him feel better: “The keys to the beetle are on the night table. I always like to drive fast when I feel that way. It’s fun out in the country. You hit rabbits, sometimes you hit dogs” (Bradbury 61). Montag is treated similarly to a crossing animal when a pack of teenagers drives by while he is crossing the road. The rowdy car swerves out of their way in an attempt to kill Montag for sport. The population has no sense of the value of a life, animal or human. This lack of consideration towards life is due to the violence people have become accustomed too. There have been nuclear wars and regular firefighter appearances that leave houses and literature in ashes. After listening to Mildred’s ignorant friends devalue life, Montag has an outburst: “Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, and think of the dozens of abortions you’ve had” (Bradbury 98). He can no longer withstand his rage towards the oblivious women. They speak of their husband’s jeopardized lives with ease and their past abortions inconsequentially and with no attachment. It could be debated that we live in a violent world where killings are