The concept of mob mentality is an important part of society that helps to determine the potential order or chaos of a society. There are the weak, and there are the strong, and with the natural order of society the strong always lead the weak. The relationship between the weak leading the strong tends to dissolve when the weak overthrow the strong. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 illustrates the destruction of conformity on a society through characterization and plot. Guy Montag is a member of the Salamander Firefighters, in a society that is heavily censored, to the point of burning books instead of putting out fires. Guy Montag was living a normal life until a whimsical girl named Clarisse acted as a mirror, causing him to reflect on his
…show more content…
Montag meets a group of people who have disobeyed the law of the society by reading and memorizing as many books as they can before they are all destroyed. These people are now outcasts and wander between cities, avoiding any confrontation from people not with them. It is the belief of these people that when the world comes to realize that they need culture and books again, they will be there for them (Bradbury 139-158). These outcasts are prepared for a revolution, but not necessarily a violent revolution. The outcasts, and eventually Montag, are ready for the day that the society realizes that they don’t have to listen to those in power anymore. The characterization of these nomadic people by Bradbury helps to illustrate the growing, but secretive support for revolution, and due to this the plot is furthered by the introduction of the group. Furthermore, a representation of change is evident in the characterization of Clarisse McClellan. Upon meeting Montag, Clarisse immediately begins by questioning Montag’s life, as well as why the world is in the state that it is (Bradbury 4-8). Clarisse is a form of revolution in the society for she is an outlier among the populace. Clarisse does not conform to the society, but rather is a free thinking entity. Due to this she is the pinnacle of change in a society in which the people all have the same thoughts about how life should be. Clarisse is a catalyst for a revolution in Montag as well. “Of course I’m happy. What does she think? I’m not?” (Bradbury 8). The sheer presence of Clarisse invokes an inquisition within Montag. Clarisse forces Montag to question his life, and to truly ask himself if he is happy with his life. She was the catalyst for all of the curiosities, and questions that Montag had later on in the novel. Revolution in a society not only affects the society as a whole,
Montag meets a group of people who have disobeyed the law of the society by reading and memorizing as many books as they can before they are all destroyed. These people are now outcasts and wander between cities, avoiding any confrontation from people not with them. It is the belief of these people that when the world comes to realize that they need culture and books again, they will be there for them (Bradbury 139-158). These outcasts are prepared for a revolution, but not necessarily a violent revolution. The outcasts, and eventually Montag, are ready for the day that the society realizes that they don’t have to listen to those in power anymore. The characterization of these nomadic people by Bradbury helps to illustrate the growing, but secretive support for revolution, and due to this the plot is furthered by the introduction of the group. Furthermore, a representation of change is evident in the characterization of Clarisse McClellan. Upon meeting Montag, Clarisse immediately begins by questioning Montag’s life, as well as why the world is in the state that it is (Bradbury 4-8). Clarisse is a form of revolution in the society for she is an outlier among the populace. Clarisse does not conform to the society, but rather is a free thinking entity. Due to this she is the pinnacle of change in a society in which the people all have the same thoughts about how life should be. Clarisse is a catalyst for a revolution in Montag as well. “Of course I’m happy. What does she think? I’m not?” (Bradbury 8). The sheer presence of Clarisse invokes an inquisition within Montag. Clarisse forces Montag to question his life, and to truly ask himself if he is happy with his life. She was the catalyst for all of the curiosities, and questions that Montag had later on in the novel. Revolution in a society not only affects the society as a whole,