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Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ is a futuristic novel that describes life in a world where books are forbidden, and the main pastime for people is watching television, listening to the radio, and driving fast cars. The main character is the book is Guy Montag, a firefighter whose job it is to burn any books left. While the usual task of firefighters is putting out fires, those in ‘Fahrenheit 451’ start them. Every person in society has to conform to the rules of the superficial lifestyle and stay away from books that would encourage people to have different opinions. Guy Montag and other characters in the book decide to go against the set standards and norms, and they face grave consequences. Most people in society wish to maintain the status quo, and this includes Guy’s own wife, who turns him in for breaking the rules. ‘Fahrenheit 451’ explores the question of whether people should conform to the social norms, and what consequences they risk in so doing. 

Montag realizes that his life is a shallow and empty one when he meets Clarisse McClellan, a teenage girl with a love for people and a deep interest in nature. The society encourages people never to think too deeply about anything, and thus they spend all of their time on their TVs and fast cars. Clarisse has no interest in all this and instead wants to talk to people and learn more about them. When she asks Montag if he is really happy with his life, she opens up a whole world of questions and yearnings in Montag. She explains that she is different from other people who consider her antisocial, “I’m antisocial, they say. I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn’t it? Social to me means talking to you about things like this.” (Bradbury 33) She would rather talk to other people than spend time doing the things expected of her by their society. However, Montag learns that Clarisse was hit by a car, and he knows that it is no coincidence. Clarisse was punished for not conforming to the norms, and her case shows that the cost of non-conformity can be as severe as death. 

Montag responds to alarms about an old woman who had a stash of books hidden, and his job is to burn the books. Shockingly, the woman declares that she would rather be burnt with her books. The incident startled Montag, and he began to wonder what might be in the books that made them worth dying for. Montag has a stash of books hidden away in his home, and he begins to read them in a frenzy. When he failed to show up to work, Captain Beatty realizes that Montag is experiencing what other firefighters have gone through, the desire to find out what is in the books they are supposed to burn. “At least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh, to scratch that itch, eh?” (Bradbury 62)The captain visits Montag’s house to help him address his concerns. Captain Beatty then explains that the main reason why books are banned is because they cause people to think too much about issues. When people used to write books, editors and authors had to be careful about offending many different groups of people, which would create a lot of conflicts and unhappiness in society. To avoid this situation, all books had to be destroyed. “The important thing for you to remember, Montag, is we’re the Happiness Boys… you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought.” (Bradbury 62) The consequence of conformity is that no one is allowed to have conflicting thoughts and opinions that might offend others. 

Captain Beatty allows Montag one day to explore the books, then turn them in for burning. When Montag tries to ask his wife to help him, she refuses and wonders why he would want to risk reading books. Montag recalls Faber, an English professor that he met before and enlists his help. They decide to challenge the status quo by printing books. Montag would place the books in the homes of firefighters to discredit their efforts at destroying all books. When his wife’s friends visit to watch TV, he is annoyed by their superficiality and decides to read them a poem. They leave angrily to file a complaint against him. Montag goes to work where Captain Beatty continues to elaborate on how books can be dangerous to the mind because of their complex ideas. The alarm sounds, and the firefighters respond, only to realize that it was from Montag’s home. Montag’s wife betrayed him, giving readers the lesson that non-conformity can make a person lose even those closest to them, such as friends and family. 

Another major lesson in ‘Fahrenheit 451’ is that in order to achieve change and overturn the status quo, people must be prepared to face resistance and many challenges, including a threat to their lives. Captain Beatty forces Montag to burn his own home after Mildred’s betrayal. After that, the captain arrested Montag and continued to berate him,”Now, Montag,you’re a burden. And fire will lift you off my shoulders, clean, quick, sure; nothing to rot later. Antibiotic, aesthetic, practical” (Bradbury 115) Montag decides that he has had enough; he sets the captain on fire and knocks out the other firefighters. Montag has to run from the Mechanical Hound that Captain Beatty set after him. He manages to escape with some help from Faber. Montag escaped death narrowly and finds another group of non-conformists named the Book People. They have memorized some of the best works of literature and philosophy, and they would like to change the current norms of burning books. Soon after that, fighter jets appear and destroy the city with bombs. The Book People and their leader, Granger, have the chance to change the norms of the society now that the entire city has been wiped out. 

In conclusion,” Fahrenheit 45” is mainly about the issue of conformity in society and the consequences of going against the status quo. Clarisse McClellan is the first character in the book that dares to go against the established norms, and she lost her life for that. People have been conditioned to watch TV, listen to the radio and drive their fast cars without much thought for anything else. Most people are happy with this situation, and they violently oppose any attempts to change it. These include Mildred, her friends, and Captain Beatty. Montag is determined to find out what is inside the books, and he almost dies in his quest. However, he survives and together with the Book People. They have the change to rebuild civilization. The main lesson in the book is that it takes courage and sacrifice to challenge the status quo, but in the end, change is inevitable. When people get too comfortable with their lives, they fail to take things seriously, dwelling instead on superficiality. The city was wiped out because the people did not take the threat of war seriously. 

Works Cited

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451: a novel. Vol. 41. Simon and Schuster, 1953.