Imagine a world where people are losing their meaning and purpose in life, because they are losing their ability to gain knowledge. In the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses characterization and dialogue to suggest that knowledge creates meaning and purpose to life.
Mrs. Bowles’ and Mrs. Phelps’ conversation at Montag’s home reveals that the lack of knowledge creates a lack of meaning and purpose in life. When Mrs. Phelps is talking about her husbands she comments, “Oh they come and go, come and go...in again out again”(94). When people repeat words, it is usually a sign that they don’t really know much about the topic. Mrs. Phelps’ repetition of the words “come and go” implies that her knowledge of where her husbands went is …show more content…
While Clarisse is talking to Montag about how everyone thinks she is antisocial, she mentions and describes her school. “An hour of TV class, an hour of basketball or baseball or running, another hour of transcription history or painting pictures...we never ask questions...they just run the answers at you”(29). When Bradbury uses the word ‘hour’ for every single session they have in school. An hour is short and not really enough time to learn much. Basketball, baseball, and running are all sports that don’t require thinking. “Transcription history” is just copying things. This does not require thinking at all. All the students there do not have much knowledge because they are never taught anything that requires them to have much knowledge to understand it. Another thing that Clarisse mentions is that they “never ask questions”. Thinking is not driven by answers, which the teachers just run at them, but it is driven by questions. To truly learn and gain knowledge one must ask questions. When talking about the students at her school, Clarisse says, “ I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each other...Six of my friends have been shot in the last year alone. Ten of them died in car wrecks” (30). When people are starting to kill others, it is a sign that they do not have regard or care for life anymore. The children in Clarisse’s school have no meaning or purpose in life, therefore they “kill each other” and driving recklessly. Montag’s reaction to Clarisse's worries are abnormally calm. Bradbury did not mention any outburst of emotion from Montag when Clarisse mentions all these deaths and killing, almost like it is normal to Montag. This also implies that this society has fallen deep into this cycle of limited knowledge and death; that it is even normal for people to have no care or regard for
Mrs. Bowles’ and Mrs. Phelps’ conversation at Montag’s home reveals that the lack of knowledge creates a lack of meaning and purpose in life. When Mrs. Phelps is talking about her husbands she comments, “Oh they come and go, come and go...in again out again”(94). When people repeat words, it is usually a sign that they don’t really know much about the topic. Mrs. Phelps’ repetition of the words “come and go” implies that her knowledge of where her husbands went is …show more content…
While Clarisse is talking to Montag about how everyone thinks she is antisocial, she mentions and describes her school. “An hour of TV class, an hour of basketball or baseball or running, another hour of transcription history or painting pictures...we never ask questions...they just run the answers at you”(29). When Bradbury uses the word ‘hour’ for every single session they have in school. An hour is short and not really enough time to learn much. Basketball, baseball, and running are all sports that don’t require thinking. “Transcription history” is just copying things. This does not require thinking at all. All the students there do not have much knowledge because they are never taught anything that requires them to have much knowledge to understand it. Another thing that Clarisse mentions is that they “never ask questions”. Thinking is not driven by answers, which the teachers just run at them, but it is driven by questions. To truly learn and gain knowledge one must ask questions. When talking about the students at her school, Clarisse says, “ I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each other...Six of my friends have been shot in the last year alone. Ten of them died in car wrecks” (30). When people are starting to kill others, it is a sign that they do not have regard or care for life anymore. The children in Clarisse’s school have no meaning or purpose in life, therefore they “kill each other” and driving recklessly. Montag’s reaction to Clarisse's worries are abnormally calm. Bradbury did not mention any outburst of emotion from Montag when Clarisse mentions all these deaths and killing, almost like it is normal to Montag. This also implies that this society has fallen deep into this cycle of limited knowledge and death; that it is even normal for people to have no care or regard for