A Dangerous Desire to Be Conventional “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.”- Juan Ramón Jiménez. Ray Bradbury uses this quote in his novel Fahrenheit 451 to highlight a central theme that reoccurs throughout Fahrenheit; the importance of individuality and nonconformity. The brainwashed society Bradbury portrays is brought to the attention of the reader through descriptions of the impacts of forced conformity. By creating a futuristic world parallel to this one, Bradbury’s warning of a future, where all that is left is a senseless society unaware of their situation and on the path to self destruction, invokes much thought about society today. The society depicted in Fahrenheit was expected
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Further analysis will demonstrate the ways in which conforming to the conventions of society can have damaging effects by limiting the individual thoughts of people and their happiness. Society’s behavior is guided by a powerful set of unwritten rules. Those that act outside of the rules receive ridicule, criticism, or rejection. The main driving force which draws people to conform is their desire to feel accepted. In order to feel accepted, people often conform however, “When you adopt the standards and values of someone else, you surrender your own integrity [and] become, to the extent of your surrender, less of a human being”- Eleanor Roosevelt. This new self is more than willing to give in to the pressures of society to be seen as “normal”. The willingness of people to surrender to conformity is shown in Fahrenheit 451 through Mildred’s character; who demonstrates conformity through her obsession with her “family” within the parlor walls. Additionally, it reflects how she is a product of the system designed to prevent people from critically thinking. Bradbury uses Mildred to …show more content…
In Sherman Alexie’s essay “Superman and Me”, he described growing up as an Indian who was “ expected to be stupid” and how “Those who failed were ceremonially accepted by other Indians and appropriately pitied”. Most Indian children lived up to society’s expectations to feel accepted. On the other hand, Alexie refused to follow the crowd and conform to society, “I refused to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.” Alexie proved that it is possible to break away from the boundaries of stereotypes, which ultimately allowed him to discover happiness. “Superman and Me” and the novel Fahrenheit 451 reveal the benefits of rising above society’s expectations and the ways in which conformity limits
Further analysis will demonstrate the ways in which conforming to the conventions of society can have damaging effects by limiting the individual thoughts of people and their happiness. Society’s behavior is guided by a powerful set of unwritten rules. Those that act outside of the rules receive ridicule, criticism, or rejection. The main driving force which draws people to conform is their desire to feel accepted. In order to feel accepted, people often conform however, “When you adopt the standards and values of someone else, you surrender your own integrity [and] become, to the extent of your surrender, less of a human being”- Eleanor Roosevelt. This new self is more than willing to give in to the pressures of society to be seen as “normal”. The willingness of people to surrender to conformity is shown in Fahrenheit 451 through Mildred’s character; who demonstrates conformity through her obsession with her “family” within the parlor walls. Additionally, it reflects how she is a product of the system designed to prevent people from critically thinking. Bradbury uses Mildred to …show more content…
In Sherman Alexie’s essay “Superman and Me”, he described growing up as an Indian who was “ expected to be stupid” and how “Those who failed were ceremonially accepted by other Indians and appropriately pitied”. Most Indian children lived up to society’s expectations to feel accepted. On the other hand, Alexie refused to follow the crowd and conform to society, “I refused to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.” Alexie proved that it is possible to break away from the boundaries of stereotypes, which ultimately allowed him to discover happiness. “Superman and Me” and the novel Fahrenheit 451 reveal the benefits of rising above society’s expectations and the ways in which conformity limits