(AGG) Many centuries old world religions, from Hinduism and Buddhism to Christianity, teach against seeking and craving material possessions. (BS-1) The society in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is materialistic, focusing on objects and physical things over all else. (BS-2) A direct consequence of this is that more fundamental and necessary aspects of life are lost. (BS-3) People within the novel who are not like the rest of society in terms of materialism regain the exact traits and characteristics that are lost to society, once again showing how the loss of these things is a byproduct of being solely concerned with physical, material things. (TS) A key message sent by Bradbury, therefore, is that materialism and focusing on the physical aspects of life is a dangerous
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That’s awful!’” (Bradbury 69). She is worried about losing all of her belongings and the televisions, showing how much she needs and cares about them. Incidentally, that might be why people in this society fear firemen, because they take away what these people care most about, material possessions. (STEWE-2) Mildred once again shows her obsession with material aspects of life when she says to Montag, “‘It’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have the fourth wall installed. It’s only two thousand dollars’” (Bradbury 18). She associates the owning of a fourth-wall TV and other such items with happiness, and feels that if she has more “stuff” she will have more fun, feel happier, etc. She is insensitive to the fact that she is asking for one-third of Montag’s yearly pay (Bradbury 18) because all she cares about is material items. (SIP-B) Not only are the individual people materialistic, but the society as a whole promotes and focuses on it also. (STEWE-1) This is seen when Faber says of Jesus Christ as shown on the television screens, “‘He’s
That’s awful!’” (Bradbury 69). She is worried about losing all of her belongings and the televisions, showing how much she needs and cares about them. Incidentally, that might be why people in this society fear firemen, because they take away what these people care most about, material possessions. (STEWE-2) Mildred once again shows her obsession with material aspects of life when she says to Montag, “‘It’ll be even more fun when we can afford to have the fourth wall installed. It’s only two thousand dollars’” (Bradbury 18). She associates the owning of a fourth-wall TV and other such items with happiness, and feels that if she has more “stuff” she will have more fun, feel happier, etc. She is insensitive to the fact that she is asking for one-third of Montag’s yearly pay (Bradbury 18) because all she cares about is material items. (SIP-B) Not only are the individual people materialistic, but the society as a whole promotes and focuses on it also. (STEWE-1) This is seen when Faber says of Jesus Christ as shown on the television screens, “‘He’s