¬¬Knowledge is Power and Ignorance is Bliss (Fahrenheit 451, 1984)
What does true happiness consists of? Is ignorance bliss, or does knowledge and learning provide true happiness? In Fahrenheit 451 main character Guy Montag, believes knowledge reigns and fights a futuristic city that celebrates and honours ignorance. Montag is a fireman, it is his duty to burn books, and promote ignorance and equality in society, and it in turn keeps everyone happy. Montag fights against ignorance, and is unable to accept the status quo, believing life is more complete than it already is. As he tries to welcome knowledge into his life, he deteriorates as a character and becomes unhappy. In 1984 main character Winston is a subtle rebel, who has big ambitions …show more content…
Beatty claims that books arise contrasting opinions and more complications which make people unhappy. Those who obtain knowledge, lose control of their life, therefore ignorance is bliss and knowledge is power. Clarisse McLellan is a quirky character, and is the first character noticed to find herself troubled because of the truth. “I’m antisocial, I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed” (Bradbury 29). She is having difficulty “socializing” with her peers because of her knowledge and lack of ignorance. Beatty, then exclaims that they have “Watched them carefully… You can’t rid yourself of all the odd ducks in just a few years.” (Bradbury 60) Clarisse is looked down upon, and is a social outcast due to the lack of ignorance. She disappears from society. Clarisse is discriminated and secluded from society due to her level of understanding, she is even killed. However, the greatest evidence of someone whose life is destroyed due to the absence of ignorance is the deterioration of the main protagonist “Guy Montag”. During the beginning of the book, Montag’s life was normal and in order. He states “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” …show more content…
They can the Party members believe the most illogical things. The mind controls the one’s universe and if the party controls the mind, they control said person’s universe. But this is not all it explains, it also shows how ignorant the people are, capable of believing anything even something as illogical as 2 + 2 = 5. This ignorance is seen throughout the novel, as a form of happiness, as it shields them from their harsh living conditions and miserable lives. Perhaps, most seen in the end of the novel as Winston loves Big Brother, he become ignorant. He feels as if Big Brother is protecting him and protected him from the harm of the world, therefore he is blissful and he exclaims “I love Big
What does true happiness consists of? Is ignorance bliss, or does knowledge and learning provide true happiness? In Fahrenheit 451 main character Guy Montag, believes knowledge reigns and fights a futuristic city that celebrates and honours ignorance. Montag is a fireman, it is his duty to burn books, and promote ignorance and equality in society, and it in turn keeps everyone happy. Montag fights against ignorance, and is unable to accept the status quo, believing life is more complete than it already is. As he tries to welcome knowledge into his life, he deteriorates as a character and becomes unhappy. In 1984 main character Winston is a subtle rebel, who has big ambitions …show more content…
Beatty claims that books arise contrasting opinions and more complications which make people unhappy. Those who obtain knowledge, lose control of their life, therefore ignorance is bliss and knowledge is power. Clarisse McLellan is a quirky character, and is the first character noticed to find herself troubled because of the truth. “I’m antisocial, I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed” (Bradbury 29). She is having difficulty “socializing” with her peers because of her knowledge and lack of ignorance. Beatty, then exclaims that they have “Watched them carefully… You can’t rid yourself of all the odd ducks in just a few years.” (Bradbury 60) Clarisse is looked down upon, and is a social outcast due to the lack of ignorance. She disappears from society. Clarisse is discriminated and secluded from society due to her level of understanding, she is even killed. However, the greatest evidence of someone whose life is destroyed due to the absence of ignorance is the deterioration of the main protagonist “Guy Montag”. During the beginning of the book, Montag’s life was normal and in order. He states “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” …show more content…
They can the Party members believe the most illogical things. The mind controls the one’s universe and if the party controls the mind, they control said person’s universe. But this is not all it explains, it also shows how ignorant the people are, capable of believing anything even something as illogical as 2 + 2 = 5. This ignorance is seen throughout the novel, as a form of happiness, as it shields them from their harsh living conditions and miserable lives. Perhaps, most seen in the end of the novel as Winston loves Big Brother, he become ignorant. He feels as if Big Brother is protecting him and protected him from the harm of the world, therefore he is blissful and he exclaims “I love Big