The rest of Fahrenheit 451 - Analysis

Throughout the book, Bradbury emphasizes the negative effects of technology and societies dependence on it. I think it’s ironic how the book ended, with the atomic bomb destroying the city. The people in Fahrenheit 451 were consumed by technology. They didn’t have time to think, they were constantly either in their parlors, or listening to their seashells, or speeding down the highway. I think what sparked Montag’s way of thinking was Clarisse, and also Faber. They both seemed to overlook the fact that he was a fireman and tried to enlighten him to the world of independent thinking rather than a world consumed by technology. Faber told Montag that the only way to achieve happiness was exposure to books and other forms of quality information, leisure to think, and freedom to act. I totally forgot about him saying that until I re-read a couple parts of the book. Now in the countryside Montag actually had time to think and the freedom to do what he wanted. He finally transformed into his true-self. He always talked about how he didn’t know what caused him to make some of the decisions he did (talks about how his hands acted one their own). He actually has room and time to reflect and realize his true purpose, memorizing the bible to preserve and pass down for the benefit of society. His purpose is to spread the knowledge of books and help others achieve happiness like he did. Even though the hobos only have some technology, they aren’t overwhelmed by it. They know about books and are knowledgeable. If the society in Fahrenheit 451 was more like the hobos on the countryside (technology in moderation) they possibly would have survived.

About Dover Beach:

“For the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain”

I think the connection to Fahrenheit 451 in this is that the society seems to be perfect and happy, but it’s only the illusion of happiness that they see. They don’t have love, perfect example being Montag and Mildred. Their country is at war, which shows there is no peace. And the last part, in Fahrenheit 451 they have no remorse or care for those who have passed. When Clarisse died, no one cared. That one friend of Mildred’s talked about how if her husband died she would simply remarry. None of it matters, their life has no purpose; once someone dies everyone moves on and no one cares. They don’t leave anything behind in the world to benefit society either. Technology dominates their thoughts and blinds them from the realization that they are not happy and their society is covered in flaws.