Fahrenheit 451 Personal Response Essay

Clarisse McCellan is viewed as odd by the other members of society in the Fahrenheit 451. Odd was an understatement, she is a threat to authority, a burden on the eyes of the community. In simple terms, this is because her golden hair gleams in the sunlight instead of her eyes reflecting the artificial light of the TV. She choses not to constantly fill her brain with media and can appreciate the entertainment her own thoughts can provide. She takes walks, looks at the sky and appreciates ‘doing nothing.’ In a world that is constantly telling us to do more and always be engaged, we need to occasionally sit back and give our brains a rest. ‘Doing nothing’ is proven to be not only mentally, but also physically and emotionally beneficial to humans.

Source D points out that people who work over 55 hours a week increase their risk of having a stroke by 33% compared to those who only work 35 to 40 hours a week. Of course there is pride in working hard, but if you are starting to feel drained and miserable, your body needs a rest. Additional studies on the working class showed that a ten hour or more workday increased the chance of coronary heart risk by 80% (Source D). People who lead more stress free lives and give themselves more free time are living better and longer. When we are constantly doing something, we are stimulating our nervous systems to the point of exhaustion, which can lead to dozens of addition health issues. On the opposition, giving the brain a well-deserved rest produces many health benefits including reduced heart rate, better digestion, improvements in mood, and a boost in overall well-being (Source F). If we look at President Obama we can see how much the pressures of running a nation has aged him. Aging is one of several health issues, alongside stroke and heart disease risk, that can arise from not taking a break to ‘do nothing’ or making an effort to live a lower stress