Fahrenheit 451

451 degrees, the temperature at which paper burns. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, people are emotionless and powerless against the controlling government; the book describes a destructive, dystopian society. Guy Montag, the main character goes through a change throughout the book on his views of his society. Montag’s society is like a rock on the edge of a cliff, bound for destruction. His society lacks curiosity, emotions. and government control.

The first factor that leads to the destructive society is the loss of questioning. Guy Montag meets his new neighbor Clarisse McClellan; she is unlike anybody he has ever met. Clarisse asks Montag a question that changes his life, he seems to be persuading himself that he is genuinely happy with the current life he has. “Are you happy?” (Bradbury 14). Clarisse is the first person to ever question fireman’s job to burn books, she asks if he is truly happy with what he is doing. Although Montag gets irritated over the question, Montag seems to question his answer after Clarisse leaves to go back home. “Of course I’m happy. What does she think? I’m not?”(Bradbury 14). Even though Montag answers Clarisse’s question we can see the slight hesitation near the end of the quote, as if he is trying to convince himself that he is happy. Guy Montag seems like he enjoys burning books, and is satisfied with the current state of his life. Montag society clearly shows the loss of questions, everyone has been so brainwashed by the society they no longer question anything.

The second cause that had a huge impact on the society was relationships. Montag and his wife Mildred seem to lack the love and communication they had when they were first married. When Mildred was happy about the White Clown,...

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...r, to judge themselves against."(Bradbury 58). The government is trying to create a society where all are equal and where everyone “seems” happy. Beatty is trying to tell Montag to be like everyone else, to remain as a “normal” fireman, to continue burning books, to continue being “happy” with his life. The severe government control is the final factor that leads to the dystopian government.

Montag’s government clearly shows its power over its people. The citizens of Montag’s society can’t think for themselves, and are completely emotionless. Clarisse McClellan plants the seed of a rebellion in Montag. He rises against the government and like a phoenix rises again from the societies ashes. Ray Bradbury creates a dystopian society that is reborn from its own destruction. The society was lacking in emotions, curiosity and was a prisoner of their own government.