What makes people truly happy? Is it money? Or is it something more modest like knowledge? There’s no right answer to this question, even if it may feel like there’s one definitive choice. Both Bradbury, in his novel Fahrenheit 451, and Krakauer, in Into the Wild, depict different states of happiness in both major and minor characters. Most importantly, Montag, in 451, and McCandless, in Wild, both search for their own positions on happiness since the definition they were handed does not resonate within them. Some may argue that they should accept the lives they were handed, instead of searching for themselves. Either way, it can be decided that some forms of happiness that are pumped through subtle subliminal messaging can be taken with …show more content…
Overall, Montag’s displeasure in the definition of happiness society gave him, lead him to finding out the truth and finding out who he truly is inside.
Next is McCandless, in Krakauer’s Wild, whom is an actual person that existed: which means that this is a real life society being interpreted. Now, he had everything you could have imagined, money, and a social life: still he dreamed of going to Alaska, a place for “dreamers and misfits” in his mind. (Krakauer 4) His search for happiness is because he’s dissatisfied with his life, even with money life is not perfect. His journey revolves around suspense, abandonment, and overall, survival skills. He does stay in touch after he escapes, sending small postcards every now and then, but ultimately he decides to go his own way to “live amongst the wild” (69). He leaves his mother, Billie, father, Samuel, and his sister, Carine behind, and even with the postcards he sends, they all go through his pseudonym, Alex. His love for the outdoors in his early life pays off for early survival, and throughout the journey he is quite pleased with his new life. Yes, he threw away scholarships, sports, and other activities for basically, a journey to death all because of his “undisciplined imagination” and his drive to pursue it “ with a zeal bordering on obsession” (134). He loved nature, mountain climbing, and overall the dangers of it, even if he was
This is an important part of the book because this realization could cause Guy change the way he acts. He could also end up trying to take steps to regain his happiness that he lost. By trying to fill that hole in his heart that once contained happiness, Montag could end up doing something very drastic or unexpected.
Thesis Statement: As the protagonist, Montag undergoes many changes throughout the book due to several characters that function as catalysts in his life.
Have you ever truly sat and considered what makes you truly happy? Often times, people answer directly with the response of money. We say this without deeply considering all that we have to be grateful for. Happiness is not achieved through wealth instead through experiences, the family we love, and the nature that surrounds us, literature has created a great impact upon the ideals we consider to create our happiness.
First of all, Montag faces government censorship over society’s citizens, which changes him to become a courageous character, and he learns that because the government has taught people to take what they have for
(SIP-A) Montag questions his own happiness and the society around him. (STEWE-1) Montag is questioned about his own happiness, “Are you happy?” (7), causing him to start questioning the society he lives in. “He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs”(9). He realizes that he is not as happy like the rest of the people in the society believe they are, he knows something is missing. “When did we meet and where?” (40) Montag questioned his wife Mildred when they met and they both could not remember. (STEWE-2) Montag now knows that something in his life is missing but he just does not know what forcing him to ask questions. “Well wasn’t there a wall between him and Mildred, when you came down to it? Literally not just one wall but, so far, three! And expensive too” (41). He needs someone to hear him out and listen to what he has to say because at the moment he has nobody that he can talk to. “Nobody listens any more. I can’t talk to the walls because they’re yelling at me. I can’t talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say”(78). Montag resorts to his old friend Faber that he can talk to about everything. (SIP-B) Montag knows what is missing in the society. (STEWE-1) Montag eventually finds out that the happiness/knowledge factor is missing in their society, that everyone is being
Being happy in life is an important feeling for everybody. Happiness is shown by somebody being satisfied, blissful and overall in a state of pleasure. In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Many characters such as Mildred, Montag and Faber all show different forms of happiness and freedom. Mildred, a cold, distant and dull character demonstrates without knowledge, freedom is impossible and real happiness is unreachable. She seems to be in great pain throughout her life, and her obsession and attachment to her “family” on the television is what causes her to not confront her own life problems. Montag who begins the book having a passion for his profession, burning books, changes quickly. After being faced
Fahrenheit 451 is a novel of little happiness. Society as a whole has become content with watching television and wasting away their lives, while a few individuals ponder the true meaning of life and happiness. Bradbury throughout the book depicts what our world could become, and almost sends a warning to the reader on how to avoid this unfriendly fate.
The character of Montag expresses the theme of the ability to think for oneself and the importance of self-reflection. The main character Montag transforms throughout the story. At first, Montag is content with his job as a fireman. Montag is comfortable with his life. Shortly into the story, the character of Clarisse McClean is introduced. Montag tells Clarisse, “You think too many things” (Bradbury 6). Reading further Bradbury’s dialog between Clarisse and Montag demonstrations Montag lacks critical thinking. Clarisse enlightens Montag and the character of Montag awakens. Montag begins to understand the world around him and comes to realize he is unhappy. In a way, Montag rebels against his society. Montag begins to think for himself. Montag reflected upon his happiness and the theme of self-reflection is conveyed for the first time within the novel. “He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back” (Bradbury 9). It wasn’t until Clarisse asked Montag “are you happy” did Montag stop to consider if he was happy. Bradbury expresses the importance of self-reflection by displaying Montag as content and then developing Montag’s character to awaken and identify he is unhappy. In addition, Bradbury illustrates the ability to think for oneself creates happiness. Bradbury creates an overzealous Montag towards the end of
People travel through life with what seems like a single goal: to be happy. This may seem like a selfish way to live, however this lone objective is the motivation behind nearly all actions. Even seemingly selfless deeds make people feel better about themselves. That warm feeling experienced while doing charitable acts can be described as happiness. But what is authentic happiness? There is an endless possibility of answers to this question, and man seems to be always searching for the solution. Although one may reach his or her goals, there is always still something one strives for in order to be happy. In the book Stumbling on Happiness, Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert takes the reader through
Would you rather be happy in your life and live in ignorance or would you rather live your life with more of a purpose? Even if that purpose means doing things that most people would frown upon. This is one of the conflicts the characters face in the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is a book about a fireman named Guy Montag. In his society fireman start fires rather than put them out. Most fires started by the firemen are fires in which they burn books. Most books are not allowed and the firemen have to be called to burn them. In this book Montag appears to be a by the book firemen early on but as the
The philosopher Aristotle once wrote, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” This famous quote compels people to question the significance of their joy, and whether it truly represents purposeful lives they want to live. Ray Bradbury, a contemporary author, also tackles this question in his book, Fahrenheit 451, which deals heavily with society's view of happiness in the future. Through several main characters, Bradbury portrays the two branches of happiness: one as a lifeless path, heading nowhere, seeking no worry, while the other embraces pure human experience intertwined together to reveal truth and knowledge.
First, In Carl Sandburg’s “Happiness”, the author describes a person trying to discover happiness and what it takes to be truly happy. Specifically, the poem gives the message that no one specifically can define the meaning of happiness, and how to be happy but community is the closest thing to it. Community and the people within it give us happiness. The author says “I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what happiness is… they all shook their heads
According to Storm Jameson, “Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.” Jameson suggests that happiness is not just having fun, but it is to be present in the moment and to make connections with others. Happiness is rarely found in the novel Fahrenheit 451, because this joyless society defines “fun” as driving with the need for speed and with an intention of killing small animals and people or the deadening white noise of endless television viewing. The novel Fahrenheit 451 conveys this very idea as the protagonist Guy Montag and others in his society are unable to achieve full happiness. Author Ray Bradbury suggests the truth of Jameson’s statement primarily through
The ultimate goal of humans is to live a life of happiness; but at what cost would you consider accepting to be happy? Are we truly happy when we are provided with food, clothing, shelter, and gainful employment, the basic necessities of life; or are we only happy when we live a life full of luxuries and excess? In Book 1 of Thomas More’s Utopia, anyone that is caught stealing suffers the consequence of being put to death, including theft of a loaf of bread to survive starvation. Thieves suffered the same punishment as murders by being put to death for their crime. The character Raphael Hythloday defends being against capital punishment for thieves by stating “If theft carries the same penalty as murder, the thief will be encouraged to
Happiness is contagious. People can gain happiness from just about anything. It is like a painless disease. In the story Fahrenheit 451 however, happiness is special, but it can end with pain and sorrow. This ideal is mainly portrayed by the main protagonist Guy Montag, a man who is curious and questionable about new things and his life in general. Throughout the story of Fahrenheit 451, Montag would flesh out his positive side and be happy; which would in turn, grant him problems in the future.