Examples Of Juxtaposition In Fahrenheit 451

With a plethora of books on varying subject matters, the world of literature is almost endless. Quality books and authors often camouflage further meaning behind a character, theme or symbol providing a treasure for readers willing to search. Ray Bradbury includes a hidden treasure in his novel Fahrenheit 451 by contrasting two of his main characters. The overall message of the story describes a futuristic society with many technological advancements, and the prohibition of books, where Ray Bradbury shows how devastating a society is with mindless technology and lack of quality literature and interactions. However, by exploring the juxtaposition between the characters Mildred and Clarisse, a further meaning can be found through their differing
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‘Are you [Guy Montag] happy?’”(Bradbury 10). This chipper personality directly contradicts that of Mildred Montag, the wife of Guy. She is a cold, miserable prototype of her shifting society. Her name means, one with gentle strength. Just by looking at the meaning of both female’s names, a clear contrast and favoritism in Clarisse is already found.
Another significance of these characters contrasting personalities is the way Bradbury makes them physically. Clarisse is physically healthy and young, in the prime season of her life, showing the ideal way of life Bradbury is trying to portray. She is a character representation of the old society Bradbury wanted which consisted of books, and the investment of individual relationship. Whereas Mildred represents a futuristic character addicted to a world without literature or thinking for yourself, which also has an abundance of mindless tv and technology. She shows the fate of her reality and can only have fake conversations with no eye contact. Her last difference from Clarisse is the fact that she is middle aged and unhappily married, just like everyone else in the world she exists in. In