Importance of Individuality Have you wondered what would happen if there were no books in the world? This question is answered in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In this book, the government bans all books. Montag’s profession is to burn these books, however he realizes this is not the right thing to do. In Fahrenheit 451, the author Ray Bradbury reveals the rising conformity in the world, and how the government is stopping the emotional growth of a person, therefore how people are not happy as they live a life with no individuality or connection. Early in the novel, the protagonist Montag starts to question the happiness in his life. He starts realizing how he isn't really happy, and how everyone around him has no proper connection …show more content…
He starts questioning himself, and faces a conflict within himself. He even hears that his job used to be saving houses, not burning them. On top of that, he starts to notice how people have no emotions, as the government is banning anything with emotion(specifically books). Montag eventually asks his colleagues about what firemen used to do. He doubts if they really burned books all the time, and thinks otherwise. He asked “Didn't firemen prevent fires rather than stoke them up and get them going”(Bradbury 31). This quote exhibits how Montag is questioning himself whether burning books is the right thing to do. He realizes that the government controls everything, and this is shown in the questioning of his profession. He becomes tired, and Montag develops a change to see where books are important. He realizes the books have meaning and emotions in them, and develops individuality as he reads them. Therefore, Montag questions himself, showing that he recognizes a problem within society. He starts to rebel against the government, as he knows what he is doing is wrong. This change happened because he read books, showing how books truly have an emotional impact on a …show more content…
It made him think about the world's current state, and realized it was wrong. Reading books radicalized him and gave him emotion, and he wanted to change the world. When Montag got out of the city and escaped, he started getting thoughts of a free country. A country with no war and peace, and this was influenced by reading books. Montag says “someday we’ll remember so much that we’ll build the biggest goddam steamshovel in history and dig up the biggest grave and shove war up and cover it” (Bradbury 157). Montags thoughts have grown ever since he started reading books. Not only did he escape the city, and meet with other book-readers, but is even developing thoughts to change the world. This shows how reading books can increase opinions as Montag is getting more thoughts about changing the world. He is starting to think like this after he reads books. The government banning books is also affecting the bonds of the people, as the people not reading are simply accepting their way of life. However, the people reading books realize how impassive society is. They understand how books build on characters and help develop someone's individuality. This same individuality helps everyone bond, and communicate with each