Fahrenheit 451 Character Analysis

Although many underlying messages are prominent throughout this novel the main overlying theme is that blind acceptance of societal norms is a catalyst for the loss of oneself, and in reverse the questioning of these norms allows for a better understanding of oneself. This is expressed continuously by the action taken by characters throughout the novel.
At the start of Fahrenheit 451 Montag seems perfectly happy accepting his occupation of destroying literature as a fireman. This false sense of happiness begins to come unraveled as Montag meets Clarisse. Clarisse helps to establish the theme because she represents such a vast contrast. As she often questions the norms of the world she lives in, causes her to come to her own conclusions about …show more content…
Mildred is a character that truly represents this theme. As others throughout the novel begin to rebel against society Mildred stays true to her predetermined ways. But, it is evident how this forced conformity has affected Mildred as she is first introduced when she is attempting to commit suicide. After this horrific event she goes back to her normal routine, as if nothing had happened. Mildred as a character is representative of the theme as she has no personality. She is a mold of her society… lifeless, with no feeling or thoughts of her own. She does not wish to have conversations with her husband all she wants is to be in her own world of TV walls and seashells. But with submission to society, she has lost all individual identity… she has lost herself. The other has gone along with society and lost herself in the …show more content…
His transformation comes about as he began realizing how truly unhappy he is in his life. He is married to a woman whom he did not really know, but did so because that is the societal norm. He has a job that he did not get any fulfillment from because he did not know why his job detailed what it did. Throughout Montag’s life he has conformed to society, but never had been happy. Yet, when he meets Clarisse and saw how truly happy she was, even though she was an outsider, began to notice things around him that he has overlooked in the past. With this new outlook Montag begins to question why his livelihood is based on burning books. As he begins to question his world he starts to truly understand who he is. It is evident when Montag had lost his identity that is was due to his conformity to society. And when he begins to find himself it was when he was forming his own opinions about the world around and not adhering to preconceived standards. Characters in this novel have gone along with society and in the process have lost