Connections with Others Brings Happiness What makes people happy? A certain hobby? Your friends? Family? Most would reply saying something or someone that is meaningful to them. In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, society pushes having fun onto its citizens, hoping it will make them happy. However, author Ray Bradbury uses characterization and conflict to suggest that the key to true happiness is having a strong connection to others.
Bradbury uses ongoing interactions between Montag and Beatty to reveal that being entertained does not make someone happy. Beatty decides to visit Montag during the time Montag stays home and doesn’t go to work. During their conversation, Beatty asks Montag, “What do we want in this country, above all? People …show more content…
When Montag and Mildred try to recall the time where and when they first met, Montag remembers, “thinking then that if she died, he was certain he wouldn’t cry. For it was the dying of the unknown, a street face, a newspaper image, [...] he had begun to cry,” (Bradbury 44). The phrases “street face” and “newspaper image” emphasize the lack of connection between the two. Both cannot even recall where they met each other. In our current society, people marry because they love one another. However, Montag thinks no more of Mildred than he does a stranger. During the same night, Montag also wonders to himself, “How did you get so empty? [...] Who takes it out of you? [...] ‘You’re not in love with anyone!’ [...] Well, wasn’t there a wall between him and Mildred [...]? Literally not just one wall but, so far, three!” (Bradbury 44). Bradbury specifically uses the word wall to describe the physical and mental barrier between Montag and Mildred. Although the two are married, they have no emotional connection whatsoever. They hardly ever talk, and when they do, it’s usually about what television programs are being broadcasted that night. This is due to the fact that Mildred spends all her time in front of the parlor walls and has no desire to talk with her husband. Because of the absence of a strong relationship, both Montag and
Bradbury uses ongoing interactions between Montag and Beatty to reveal that being entertained does not make someone happy. Beatty decides to visit Montag during the time Montag stays home and doesn’t go to work. During their conversation, Beatty asks Montag, “What do we want in this country, above all? People …show more content…
When Montag and Mildred try to recall the time where and when they first met, Montag remembers, “thinking then that if she died, he was certain he wouldn’t cry. For it was the dying of the unknown, a street face, a newspaper image, [...] he had begun to cry,” (Bradbury 44). The phrases “street face” and “newspaper image” emphasize the lack of connection between the two. Both cannot even recall where they met each other. In our current society, people marry because they love one another. However, Montag thinks no more of Mildred than he does a stranger. During the same night, Montag also wonders to himself, “How did you get so empty? [...] Who takes it out of you? [...] ‘You’re not in love with anyone!’ [...] Well, wasn’t there a wall between him and Mildred [...]? Literally not just one wall but, so far, three!” (Bradbury 44). Bradbury specifically uses the word wall to describe the physical and mental barrier between Montag and Mildred. Although the two are married, they have no emotional connection whatsoever. They hardly ever talk, and when they do, it’s usually about what television programs are being broadcasted that night. This is due to the fact that Mildred spends all her time in front of the parlor walls and has no desire to talk with her husband. Because of the absence of a strong relationship, both Montag and