Every author has his or her own style of writing and includes specific literary devices to create a unique story which includes many lessons and themes. Whether the theme is developed through conflict and plot or character development and realizations, many authors have some message they want readers to take away from the story. Ray Bradbury uses unusual scenarios and science fiction stories to keep readers intrigued and interested throughout the duration of his novels. In addition to developing a strong, interesting plot, Bradbury includes important life lessons in his novels. The importance of living in the moment, the desire to find happiness, and the inevitability of change are themes developed in Bradbury’s novels through the development
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Bradbury uses the development and realizations of Guy Montag throughout the duration of his novel Fahrenheit 451 to express this theme of happiness. Early on in the novel Montag meets a young girl, Clarisse2, who is not like anyone he has ever known. She sparks Montag’s desire to find happiness by simply asking “Are you happy?” (Bradbury 7). This leads Montag to doubt his contentment with life. He realizes he is empty inside and pretends to live a perfect life. In addition to what Clarisse said to him, Montag comes home to find his wife almost dead after a suicide attempt. This symbolizes an awakening and opens Montag’s eyes to not only his own miserable life, but his wife’s as well. “His unhappiness is shown by his hiding of forbidden books, and her unhappiness surfaces in regular attempts to commit suicide” (Reid). Clarisse’s happiness and free-spirit confuses Montag, and he becomes aware of the corrupted world he lives in. Bradbury uses Clarisse as a symbol of individuality in a society which conforms3 to the government. Not only is she a symbol, but she also strongly influences Montag’s development and encourages his initial change. Montag begins reading banned books and discovers a plethora of knowledge that has been hidden from the world. The society Montag lives in tries to make its people happy by simplifying their lives, which represents conformity and the loss of personality. The desire to conform causes the citizens to lose themselves and the true definition of happiness. In Fahrenheit 451’s society “firemen act on behalf of ordinary people who know what happiness is, who want to be sure that everyone is happy, and who want to extirpate any who fail to conform to this idea of happiness”
Bradbury uses the development and realizations of Guy Montag throughout the duration of his novel Fahrenheit 451 to express this theme of happiness. Early on in the novel Montag meets a young girl, Clarisse2, who is not like anyone he has ever known. She sparks Montag’s desire to find happiness by simply asking “Are you happy?” (Bradbury 7). This leads Montag to doubt his contentment with life. He realizes he is empty inside and pretends to live a perfect life. In addition to what Clarisse said to him, Montag comes home to find his wife almost dead after a suicide attempt. This symbolizes an awakening and opens Montag’s eyes to not only his own miserable life, but his wife’s as well. “His unhappiness is shown by his hiding of forbidden books, and her unhappiness surfaces in regular attempts to commit suicide” (Reid). Clarisse’s happiness and free-spirit confuses Montag, and he becomes aware of the corrupted world he lives in. Bradbury uses Clarisse as a symbol of individuality in a society which conforms3 to the government. Not only is she a symbol, but she also strongly influences Montag’s development and encourages his initial change. Montag begins reading banned books and discovers a plethora of knowledge that has been hidden from the world. The society Montag lives in tries to make its people happy by simplifying their lives, which represents conformity and the loss of personality. The desire to conform causes the citizens to lose themselves and the true definition of happiness. In Fahrenheit 451’s society “firemen act on behalf of ordinary people who know what happiness is, who want to be sure that everyone is happy, and who want to extirpate any who fail to conform to this idea of happiness”