“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” This quote by John F. Kennedy exemplifies the insight Ray Bradbury portrays in “Fahrenheit 451” about a future world in which society has finally carved the perfect people with the perfect lives. Everything seems to be okay for Guy Montag, as he has completely conformed to what is expected of him, until Clarisse, a woman who has been raised knowing the truth of the world, unknowingly displays human connection that Guy himself has never had. As the story continues Bradbury displays three things that make the advantages of disobeying society apparent including, individuality, knowledge, and spiritual growth.
In this futuristic society, a, fireman's job is the complete opposite from …show more content…
Guy Montag happens to be one of these firemen. In the beginning of the novel, he describes his experience of burning books as, “a pleasure” (Bradbury 1). It becomes apparent to the readers that Guy is a stereotypical tough and conceited guy as he thinks to himself, “he knew that when he returned to the firehouse, he might wink at himself, a minstrel man, burnt-cooked, in the mirror. Later, going to sleep, he would feel the fiery smile still gripped by face muscles” (Bradbury 2). However, after encountering Clarisse McClellan, Guy has his first epiphany. Guy’s bubble of ignorance had been popped by Clarisse although he didn’t know it at the time. The presence of someone different, unique, the presence of an individual became a tick in his mind which made him quite irritable. “You are an odd one,” Guy says to Clarisse, but odd was not his first impression of her, instead he was impressed and even frightened (Bradbury 5). He was not frightened of the fact that she was a complete stranger, he was frightened at her extensive knowledge and eloquence. He says, “my wife is thirty and yet you seem so much older at times” this represents Guy’s thorough interest in Clarisse and her disparity from society …show more content…
To respond to this danger the government has outlawed the reading of books and tasked firefighters with the burning of books to supervise and control the ideas and information spread throughout the people. Although some choose to disobey this law and challenge the higher power, "you can't ever have my books," a woman exclaimed while being burned alive in her own home for refusing to conform to a law she didn't believe in. Ironically, the fire fighters cannot save the woman as it is their duty to obey the law. However, Guy wanted to be different. Guy wanted to know what is so special about books that a woman would die for them. What is so wrong with books that the government would try to completely erase the concept of reading altogether? These are the questions that drove Guy to grabbed the ridiculed book from the burning house and center his upcoming life entirely around them. Montag has lost all connection with human life, but he believes that books can solve his inner conflicts. "Whether we like this or not, we're in it" Guy has lost his sense with reality and does not have the strength to rebel alone, therefore he seeks to rekindle his connection with his wife as he seeks her help in assisting his opposition to the government. Although he fails with his wife, he finds his guardian angel in Faber. To Faber, books were "only one type
In this futuristic society, a, fireman's job is the complete opposite from …show more content…
Guy Montag happens to be one of these firemen. In the beginning of the novel, he describes his experience of burning books as, “a pleasure” (Bradbury 1). It becomes apparent to the readers that Guy is a stereotypical tough and conceited guy as he thinks to himself, “he knew that when he returned to the firehouse, he might wink at himself, a minstrel man, burnt-cooked, in the mirror. Later, going to sleep, he would feel the fiery smile still gripped by face muscles” (Bradbury 2). However, after encountering Clarisse McClellan, Guy has his first epiphany. Guy’s bubble of ignorance had been popped by Clarisse although he didn’t know it at the time. The presence of someone different, unique, the presence of an individual became a tick in his mind which made him quite irritable. “You are an odd one,” Guy says to Clarisse, but odd was not his first impression of her, instead he was impressed and even frightened (Bradbury 5). He was not frightened of the fact that she was a complete stranger, he was frightened at her extensive knowledge and eloquence. He says, “my wife is thirty and yet you seem so much older at times” this represents Guy’s thorough interest in Clarisse and her disparity from society …show more content…
To respond to this danger the government has outlawed the reading of books and tasked firefighters with the burning of books to supervise and control the ideas and information spread throughout the people. Although some choose to disobey this law and challenge the higher power, "you can't ever have my books," a woman exclaimed while being burned alive in her own home for refusing to conform to a law she didn't believe in. Ironically, the fire fighters cannot save the woman as it is their duty to obey the law. However, Guy wanted to be different. Guy wanted to know what is so special about books that a woman would die for them. What is so wrong with books that the government would try to completely erase the concept of reading altogether? These are the questions that drove Guy to grabbed the ridiculed book from the burning house and center his upcoming life entirely around them. Montag has lost all connection with human life, but he believes that books can solve his inner conflicts. "Whether we like this or not, we're in it" Guy has lost his sense with reality and does not have the strength to rebel alone, therefore he seeks to rekindle his connection with his wife as he seeks her help in assisting his opposition to the government. Although he fails with his wife, he finds his guardian angel in Faber. To Faber, books were "only one type