Society establishes a set of rules and laws to keep it stable and the people who live in it safely. Normally, the majority will follow these rules, although occasionally, certain individuals or groups will exhibit their disfavor and revolt. In the context of Fahrenheit 451, its society and the rebellion that happens within is akin to this exactly. Bradbury writes of a time in the future when books are forbidden and television becomes the dominant media in the pursuit of a simpler, less volatile society. In other words, oppression was produced precisely at the juncture where knowledge was denied. The protagonist of the story, Guy Montag, was never one to doubt the exact reason why he carried out his society’s prohibition of literature. However, …show more content…
The quote that best captures this desire reads “Had he ever seen a fireman that didn't have black hair, black brows, a fiery face, and a blue-steel shaved but unshaved look?” (Bradbury 30) in which Montag realizes that he shares both the appearance and predisposition towards work with every other fireman. Of course, likening a group of people to each other expands on Fahrenheit 451’s theme of conformity and the tendency of individuals to act in accordance with specific standards. However, this imagery soon evolves and develops Montag’s desires as he makes certain revelations in regard to the sphere of people. As the book progresses, a realization can be made that the majority of remarks citizens make in regard to society are actually in reference to themselves as a result of its suppressive nature. People say that society will not stand for the existence of literature and that they will punish and ostracize those that do not listen. However, when people say that they will punish those who deviate from the standard, they often mean that they themselves will do the punishing. For example, quickly after Montag recognizes the value of books, Mildred turns him in and Beatty immediately embodies society’s ideals to a violent extreme. Amongst the various things Montag has witnessed throughout the entirety of the book, the result of this extreme compliance to societal standards may be the greatest motivation for his
Montag's complacency and his refusal to acknowledge the changes taking place around him ultimately caused him to become complicit in the oppressive state of his world. Montag did not take initiative to understand the consequences of the oppressive laws and regulations becoming the norm, even when he found himself feeling like an outcast for his views ("Fahrenheit 451" 4). His unwillingness to question the norms of his time, and to push for change, left him in an increasingly dangerous situation that, in a roundabout way, he had a hand in creating ("Fahrenheit 451" 151). This is further highlighted in the novel when Captain Beatty explains to Montag how, when technology advanced and people grew lazy, it allowed for the suppression of books and the subsequent restrictive society ("Fahrenheit 451" 106). Montag could have caused the current situation by speaking out against the oppressive laws and fighting for change, but his apathy caused him to become a part of the
Showing the growing awareness of what used to be the norm and how those circumstances affected the country, Montag began to understand why books are banned and the manipulation that has blinded him. An additional realization he made about his job, was given as Captain Beatty explains the purpose of their work, ¨[Firemen] were given a new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors.¨ (Bradbury, 1991, Pg. 56). This quote evoked a turning point in the text, as Montag is exposed to the true meaning of his job, he isn’t burning meaningless works that offend people. He will soon understand that he is a pawn of the government used to censor the public from information
Montag responds, “That’s against the law !” (Bradbury 5) Montag is hypnotized by the society which causes him to consider reading books as something that will not bring happiness, and as something that will bring nothing but disgust. (STEWE
Firstly, Guy Montag follows the rules of society and goes with conformity. For example, Guy feels that it is a “special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed,” (Bradbury,1). Guy goes on to have these feelings, and agrees with society. He continues to follow the rules and does his job as a fireman, to burn all books in existence. In addition, Guy continues to love his job as a fireman and smiles at the sight of, “the books went up in
Name: Jacob Lawson Period: 2 Unit 3 Culminating Essay Title: The Grave Impact of Society On Individuals In Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian fiction Novel published in 1953, Ray Bradbury tells the story of Guy Montag, a firefighter turned menace to this society due to reasons that seem completely normal to the reader but are outlawed in this world. In this dystopian fictional novel, Bradbury depicts to his readers that society directly negatively determines an individual's ability to access written or spoken knowledge and construct their own personal values through the use of allusions and conflicts.
In a world that is overrun by an army of conformists, it is crucial to find one's individuality so as to not lose one's sense of self. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is set in a dystopian society in which books are burned by firefighters in order to control dangerous ideas and dictate how people should think. The book tells the story of Guy Montag, a fireman, who questions the norms of his society after meeting someone new. Montag undergoes extreme suffering, loss, and pain as a result of breaking out of the small box his world is in.
Montag is daring and willing to question the status quo, in contrast to Faber's fear and inaction. Through Faber, Bradbury portrays the dangers of censorship and the importance of free speech. “I’m one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the ‘guilty,’ but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself. And when finally they set the structure to burn the books, using the firemen, I grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with me, by then. Now, it’s too late.”
“A time to keep silent and a time to speak,” (158) is a quote from the book Fahrenheit 451. This novel is all about how people conform to a society that burns books. They do so because they make people “think” thoughts that the government doesn’t want them to. Though there are some who are not conformed and read books to enlighten themselves to the ways of the past, that changes the way they see the present. Mildred, Faber, and Clarisse are characters that represent different aspects of conformity or nonconformity in the Fahrenheit 451 society.
Surrounded by book defiling propaganda, Montag starts to question the law and wants to know for himself what books have in them. He finds out how there is something special about them
In his world, individuals live in a backward society that turns its back on all forms of knowledge, especially books. Guy Montag meets a friendly 17-year-old girl, Clarisse McClellan, who gives Montag a different outlook on books. When Clarisse dies, Montag falls into despair, rebelling against the law as a coping mechanism. Through the use of symbolism, Bradbury argues that censorship is overly used when control is needed. Censorship and control are displayed through Montag's wife, Mildred.
In the novel Fahrenheit 451 conformity and individuality is something to talk about. Conformity and individuality are very important themes in Fahrenheit 451 and in modern life. The novel demonstrates how individuality is very rare. Is about modern America. Without individuality today, everyone would not be different and would follow someone else trends and everything about them.
Montag is extremely curious about books, and the idea of freedom that it drives him crazy. He becomes so crazy that he lies to his wife, and kills his boss. Montag will go to any extent to gain freedom, in the means of breaking laws, and hurting
(STEWE-2) Besides asking questions about society’s relationships, Montag questions further and starts asking about society’s rules on burning books after he experiences a woman burn with her books. He says to Mildred, “'There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there.'" (Bradbury 48). Montag, before, had blindly followed and enforced society’s rules about burning books.
The Wrongs of Society in Fahrenheit 451 Throughout history, engineers and inventors have created new technology, from the printing press to the iPhone. There have also been many times where society grew suspicious of this wave of new inventions, like humanity in the 1950’s. Within the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, there are many important problems that he believed needed to be discussed, like a culture with a lack of an opinion, too much technology, and not enough authentic facts. To start, Bradbury was concerned with an opinionless society. Most people in Fahrenheit 451 trusted the government too much, as there was no controversy.
Guy Montag is a loyal man to his wife, Mildred, and his job working as a fireman. He is very happy with his work as he is doing the duty of his town. This made Montag feel like a part of society. The society in this novel has a censorship on everything. Limiting free thought and the ability to connect with other people.