Blending in or Standing Out

...

Montag starts off as a conformed fireman, but becomes an individual when he comes to realize how flawed the society truly is. At first, Montag meets a new young neighbor, named Clarisse, and she opens his eyes. She asks him the question of whether or not he is happy. He states that he is, but deep down he knows that he is not and he begins to realize that. After Montag meets with Clarisse he is thinking of how, “[h]e [wears] his happiness like a mask and the girl [is running] off across the lawn with the mask and there [is] no way of going to knock on her door to ask for it back” (9). Here Montag is explaining how Clarisse opened his eyes to the fact that he is not truly happy, and there is no going back now that he realizes that. Also in Fahrenheit 451, the old lady is willing to die as a martyr for her books and what they represent, which is what makes her a true individual. She shows she is willing to die for the books when she, “reaches out to contempt to them all, and strik[es] the kitchen match against the railing” (37). Just as Beatty goes to the kerosene, the old lady lights her match. This shows that she would rather die for her books and what they represent, than be killed for breaking the law. In addition, Faber is also a character shown as an individual throughout the book. He is willing to help Montag make copies of the books, which is going against the system and rules of the government. We know that Faber agrees to help Montag when he says, “‘So, Montag, there [is] this unemployed printer. We might start with a few books, and wait on the war to break the pattern and give us the push we need” (85). When Faber says this to Montag he is agreeing with the plan to go against the government’s rules, and print the books. This proves Faber to be and individual because he is going against the rules and not conforming to the society. Through Montag, the old lady, Faber and how they go against the rules of the government, the theme of individuality is being displayed. By looking at three main character’s actions, experiences, and relationships throughout the book, it is evident that the themes of individuality and conformity are being shown.

Throughout Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, the theme of conformity verses individuality is being shown through the main characters. Conformity is shown through Mildred Montag and her friends, who are oblivious to how flawed the society is until the very end. In contrast, Beatty is an individual who reads books, but he enforces laws of conformity to everyone else. Finally, transformed Guy Montag, Faber, and the old lady are individuals that come to realize how flawed the society is. Beatty and Mildred both ended up dying as people who are conformed to the society. Montag realizes how he is not happy as a conformist and becomes an individual by not following the government’s rules. He is then able to escape the society before it is too late. In summary, this proves that it is good to be an individual and to be different from everyone else. Blending in with everyone will not get anyone anywhere. So, why be like Mildred when you can be like Montag, “Why fit in, when you were born to stand out”.

Works Cited

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012. Print.