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Conformity In Fahrenheit 451, Swamp Boy, And Harrison Bergeron

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Throughout second semester we have read many stories that have strongly illustrated the idea of conformity, but in Fahrenheit 451, Swamp Boy, and Harrison Bergeron the theme of conformity is most prevalent. The characters in each of the three stories become trapped by the act of conforming to their societal norms. The people in the societies participate in confirmation because it is what everyone else is doing, and they crave acceptance from others. As humans, we conform to the world around us because it is expected and we fear any individual that abides by the social norms. In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Montag is an individual that the conformists of the society fear. The towns obedience to the law that bans knowledge and books alters the way Montag feels about the world he lives in. Unlike everyone else in the story, the books intrigue Montag and make him want to rebel and go against the law. Montag decides to step outside the bubble of conformity and steal a couple of books. One day, when Montag's wife has guests over he reads a line from the book to the guests and they don't react well to it. “Mrs.Bowles stood up and glared at Montag. You see? I knew it would happen! I’ve always said, poetry and tears, poetry and sickness; all that mush. Now I’ve had it proved to me. Youre nasty Mr.Montag, you're nasty.” (Page 97). Mildred and her friends are the perfect conformists in the story. Since it is a social norm to hate and despise books in their society, all of the women including Mrs. Bowles act appalled by the reading of the book because it is what is expected of them, and it is what is the normal thing to do. In a society where social norms are extremely valued anyone who does otherwise seems monstrous. In this scene, Montag seems like a monster to Mildred and her friends because he holds onto the one thing that everyone in the town is supposed to be afraid of. As human beings, we pick up social cues and align with the behavior around us. Mildred and her friends are so intrigued by conformity because it gives them a sense of relief and lessens the risk of judgment and denial from others. Beatty is the head firefighter and holds a lot of power in the society. Beatty wants a world where there are no

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