The choice between conforming to societal standards and remaining an individual is similar to choosing between freedom and oppression. Individuality is the distinction between qualities of oneself and others, requiring independent thoughts and opinions. Conformity grasps the idea of accepting ideal behavior and notions. In two powerful dystopian novels, 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main characters struggle to rise up against the standard behavior of society. However, only one succeeds, while the other accepts to conform. Both characters are similar in their desire to rebel against the masses, and in doing so, risk their lives to alter orthodox perceptions. Winston Smith and Guy Montag are alike in their characterization, but are dissimilar in their achievements. Conformity against individuality is a major theme in both books, and the protagonists …show more content…
Montag and Winston were both heroes who blindly lead a life that was meaningless and monotonous. They each meet a woman who brings spirit into their souls to become determined on turning away from customary routines. Montag acted on this new sensation by stealing a book and reading it. This was simply the beginning of his rebellion and his individuality continued on. Winston’s act of rebellion occurred when he inscribed the words “I Hate Big Brother” (Orwell 18) into his secret diary. Winston also strove to revolt during the “Two Minute Hate”. He began shouting as an orthodox member of society, however eventually began to believe that his faith and sympathy should lie with the enemy that the hatred was directed towards. Although this act
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Show MoreThis quote is an example of “doublethink” a method used by the party to control the minds of people. The Party made people accept that two mutually contradictory beliefs were considered true. A novel similar to 1984 known as Fahrenheit 451 had a similar idea; both novels had a government that wanted to control their citizens. Both governments didn’t want their people to become smarted than them so they used different methods of doing so.
Do you feel the need to be the one to gain the attention of spotlight or do you prefer being in a group of those of common interest? Is the information taught to you enough to settle down comfortably or do you need more answers? In the book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury expresses the affect of books - and that everything is not all sunshine and rainbows. Books are being banned, burned, and ceased and there is no way to stop this from happening; or so they think. Technology is overruling the idea that books are a relentless way of making the world a better place.
In the paragraph, Beatty explains why they don’t allow people to read books. In the world Montag is living in the government doesn’t allow people to have their own thoughts or opinions. They are worried that if they read books they will have different opinions causing them to fight with one another or the government. The government is limiting their knowledge so everyone will be “happy”. However, no one is truly happy because they believe the same thing as everyone else.
In Ray Bradbury’s book Farenheit 451, it is illegal to own books, and society deems people who “think” and “question” unfit and those people are wanted by the government. In the novel, Bradbury ironically pictures firemen as a group of men who create fires, and the people who “think” and “question” are killed. In this book themes of conformity verses individuality, importance of remembering and understanding history, and freedom of speech and the consequences of losing it. These three thematic ideas are major factors that contributed to how the society’s everyday life is executed.
The nature of conformity and individualism in Fahrenheit 451 is different compared to each other. Conformity is how everyone is in the novel while individualism is only shown outside of society. The true nature of conformity is that everyone is created equally while individualism shows what a real person is. In the novel, Montag was a character that was affected by conformity and individualism since he was once conformed in society, but then soon became an individual himself. Conformity and Individualism are polar opposites and that everyone should be unique in their own way.
Envision yourself living in a society with immoral standards, where everything you do is thoroughly watched or recorded. Visualize yourself living in a place where your mind, actions, and freedom are limited to, rules. Hence, imagine living in a dystopian society. In the book 1984, Winston is stuck under these preposterous rules. Thus, he commits an act of rebellion to demonstrate that he is no longer subjected to what the party forces the population to do.
Fahrenheit 451 Essay Courage enables an individual to stand up for what they believe in order to make a change. In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s courage enables him to envision a different future and take action to achieve it. Initially, Montag does not question the world around him; however, he becomes aware of the limitations of his society in his search for happiness.
Our society is doomed. Everyday we become more and more similar to the society within Fahrenheit 451 as we become less and less patient and more and more conform becoming what we think society wants us to be rather than what we ourselves want to be. Have you ever wanted something so bad and you just had to have it right now, you couldn’t wait any longer? This means you have felt instant gratification the need to have something right now no waiting. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury the society is full of people who constantly have instant gratification.
Montag is forced to explore his own meaning of individuality In a society of followers . When he visits Professor Faber at his home. He begs Faber, “I want you to teach me how to understand what I read,” . Montag is capable of physically reading out words, but he is unable to put any meaning or emotion behind the texts he reads. Montag desperately wishes too understand and think about the texts.
John Dos Passos once said, “Individuality is freedom lived.” The root of individuality lies in freedom. Without freedom, there is an inability to think for oneself and share one’s ideas. In a society where this freedom is lacking, people will not think for themselves and submit to whatever rule is enforced over them. In Fahrenheit 451, the government attempts to control freedom as a means towards reaching a perfect society.
Have you ever thought about how living in a dystopian society would influence your life? Well, the idea of censorship is used in the novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, to make an impact on the audience. Bradbury uses certain elements of dystopia in his novel to show censorship, which significantly effects the society in the novel. For example, Bradbury uses the dystopian element that says citizens live in a dehumanized state, to show that their society believes that curiosity is unacceptable. Next, he uses the idea that in a dystopian world, information, independent thought, and freedom is restricted, to show how books are bad in their society.
Similarities and differences between 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 Individualism and the realization of one’s inner thoughts are the most important things someone can possess. In 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 there are a lot of similarities and differences. The biggest similarity between the books is that they both take place in a dystopian society where the government has total control of the people. However there are many other similarities such as the main characters, desensitized natures, and no privacy. The biggest difference between the books are the endings and how the government regulates the ideas and thoughts of their people.
This moment of weakness for Winston demonstrates his ego because he is satisfying his urge to rebel against the government in an efficient and appropriate way, as described by Marie Doorey in a reference about psychoanalysis (Doorey). Winston waited until he had acquired the diary to begin conspiring his thoughts against Big Brother. Winston mistakenly thought he was writing in secret, when in fact he was not. He was always being watched by Big Brother. Moreover, Winston attempts expressing his individuality by writing his thoughts and feelings in the diary.
The word “social” may have as many definitions as there are souls inhabiting the planet, but what happens with that term is turned around completely? One answer can be found in the world of Fahrenheit 451, where a person is considered antisocial if he or she thinks freely or rebels against the norm. Society uses this term when referring to Clarisse, who spends her time exploring the world around her, rather than trying to fit in with her peers. Indeed, this world’s idea of social behavior is turned on its head, yet it is not so different from that of our own society.
At the beginning of the novel, Winston made it prominent that he dissented Big Brother and his party’s idea. He wrote in his diary, in Book 1 Chapter 1, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER…” (Orwell 18). This shows that Winston dissented his country’s government and was willing to rebel for he knew deep inside that