Individuality vs Conformity in Fahrenheit 451 It is easier to be unremarkable and blend in than to be an individual and speak one’s mind. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, it shows how people who reveal their individuality find themselves as social outcasts. Clarisse 's adamant questioning of society demonstrates her positive influence on Montag in contrast to Mildred 's, due to her susceptibility to conform. The differences in Clarisse and Mildred’s choices, perception on life, and relationship with Montag emphasizes their impact on him.
The varying ways that Clarisse and Mildred spend leisurely reiterate their distinction, demonstrating good and bad. Clarisse’s positive influence is shown through how she occupies herself. …show more content…
After Mildred remembers to tell Montag about Clarisse’s disappearance, Montag pays closer attention to Mildred which shows her bland life style, “her hair burnt by chemicals to a brittle straw, her eyes with a kind of cataract unseen but suspect far behind the pupils, the reddened pouting lips, the body as thin as a praying mantis from dieting, and her flesh like white bacon” (45). The words used paints an unpleasant image as Mildred is described as a corpse with her “flesh like white bacon”. Montag’s description of Mildred shows society’s demand for artificially beautiful women which can be achieved through dying one’s hair with “chemicals” and “dieting”. With Mildred following society’s orders it highlights her adherence to rules even though it is molding her into the ideology of their society …
Clarisse and Mildred’s differences are highlighted through the way they spend their time alone which influences Montag. While Clarisse refuses to comply with the ideologies forced upon her, contrastingly, Mildred lives a monotonous lifestyle, adhering to the standard of society. In this aspect, their influence upon Montag differs. Clarisse, encourages Montag on his path of self-awareness as he mirrors her own will to break away from the constraints of society. On the other hand, with Mildred living a conforming life, she prevents him from becoming his own individual and developing the ability …show more content…
While Montag is on the subway to meet Faber after hearing Mildred and her fixation with her White Clown family, “I’m numb he thought. When did the numbness really begin in my face? In my body? The night I kicked the pill bottle in the dark, like kicking a buried mine” (73). The simile “ I kicked the pill bottle in the dark, like kicking a buried mine” portrays the intensity of the situation and the difficulty of his decisions. Even though Montag wants to completely turn away from society and its rules, he finds it difficult to turn away from his old habits of being a fireman and burning down houses that contained books. Similarly, the repetition of the word “numb” represents the familiarity he feels with guilt and thirst for the truth. He refers to his hands as being infected and the poison travelling through his body when he stole books, and now with him being “numb” it shows how accustomed he is to it. It shows that Clarisse motivates Montag’s thought process which enables him to become more conscious of the society that he lives in. Montag is transforming into his own character and understands that he does not concur with his community and his wife on numerous issues as he is expected
The varying ways that Clarisse and Mildred spend leisurely reiterate their distinction, demonstrating good and bad. Clarisse’s positive influence is shown through how she occupies herself. …show more content…
After Mildred remembers to tell Montag about Clarisse’s disappearance, Montag pays closer attention to Mildred which shows her bland life style, “her hair burnt by chemicals to a brittle straw, her eyes with a kind of cataract unseen but suspect far behind the pupils, the reddened pouting lips, the body as thin as a praying mantis from dieting, and her flesh like white bacon” (45). The words used paints an unpleasant image as Mildred is described as a corpse with her “flesh like white bacon”. Montag’s description of Mildred shows society’s demand for artificially beautiful women which can be achieved through dying one’s hair with “chemicals” and “dieting”. With Mildred following society’s orders it highlights her adherence to rules even though it is molding her into the ideology of their society …
Clarisse and Mildred’s differences are highlighted through the way they spend their time alone which influences Montag. While Clarisse refuses to comply with the ideologies forced upon her, contrastingly, Mildred lives a monotonous lifestyle, adhering to the standard of society. In this aspect, their influence upon Montag differs. Clarisse, encourages Montag on his path of self-awareness as he mirrors her own will to break away from the constraints of society. On the other hand, with Mildred living a conforming life, she prevents him from becoming his own individual and developing the ability …show more content…
While Montag is on the subway to meet Faber after hearing Mildred and her fixation with her White Clown family, “I’m numb he thought. When did the numbness really begin in my face? In my body? The night I kicked the pill bottle in the dark, like kicking a buried mine” (73). The simile “ I kicked the pill bottle in the dark, like kicking a buried mine” portrays the intensity of the situation and the difficulty of his decisions. Even though Montag wants to completely turn away from society and its rules, he finds it difficult to turn away from his old habits of being a fireman and burning down houses that contained books. Similarly, the repetition of the word “numb” represents the familiarity he feels with guilt and thirst for the truth. He refers to his hands as being infected and the poison travelling through his body when he stole books, and now with him being “numb” it shows how accustomed he is to it. It shows that Clarisse motivates Montag’s thought process which enables him to become more conscious of the society that he lives in. Montag is transforming into his own character and understands that he does not concur with his community and his wife on numerous issues as he is expected