Individuality In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

Individuality is feared because it is seen as a threat in a society expects all citizens to conform. Individuality is when a particular person is aware of what is happening around them, while conformity is when a person’s behavior is in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. In the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, characters in the book show the relationship between conformity and individuality because those who conform, follow society’s rules while individuals still conform in a way, but retain their individuality by showing that they are physically and mentally mindful of their actions.

Do you conform or do you become an individual? Conforming is being similar in form or type ; behaving according to socially acceptable conventions or standards vs individuality which is a separate existence ; the quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others to the same kind. Two very opposites, but you first conform and then further develop into individuals, you take what you learn from others and our own experiences, then finally mature into individuals.

If you are in a room where everyone else has something in common except for you, what do you do? Maybe pretend to share their ideas. Maybe leave the room. But generally there are very few who would face the negative attention that is created by situations such as this. No one ever wants to be the ‘odd man out.’ Yet, without controversy how can people grow to have established morals and motivation in life? This is exactly what Ray Bradbury was trying to explain in his novel, Fahrenheit 451. His main character, Guy Montag, starts as a government pawn, a fireman who had the job of burning books. He blends in to society until one day he meets a young girl, who for the first time in his life makes him ask ‘why.’ Through his struggle of finding

People like to believe that the idea of conformity versus individuality is as clear as black and white. It is either side with society and conform or retain individuality and go against the norms. When it comes down to it, individuality and conformity are not foreign concepts. We see the idea executed in everyday life. In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury reveals that individuality and conformity is not strictly two sides, but rather, a spectrum with many views in between. Bradbury expands on the theme of conformity versus individuality in society through his characters Guy Montag, Clarisse McClellan, and Captain Beatty.

Fire is an ever-present concept in Fahrenheit 451. In the society of the dystopian world the fire is a negative force that destroys the houses and banned books of the offender. The name of the book is derived from the temperature at which books burn. The burning books become a metaphor for the anti-intellectual violence of the novel. It eradicates every cultural article in which are books. It is used as a pressure of the government to form the citizens the way the government wants the world constructed. "The core of the novel rests in the readers ability to share Guy 's slow struggle toward consciousness, to move from

In the book Fahrenheit 451 the theme is a society/world that revolves around being basically brain washed or programmed because of the lack of people not thinking for themselves concerning the loss of knowledge, and imagination from books that don't exist to them. In such stories as the Kurt Vonnegut's "You have insulted me letter" also involving censorship to better society from vulgarity and from certain aspects of life that could be seen as disruptive to day to day society which leads to censorship of language and books. Both stories deal with censorship and by that society is destructed in a certain way by the loss of knowledge from books.

“‘We must all be alike’” (Bradbury 58).   This quote was stated by a fireman named Captain Beatty, one of the lead firemen who burns books in the book Fahrenheit 451 (451).  At first glance, this idea of complete uniform may seem incredibly far off, almost impossible for a society to accept and enforce this way of life.

As humans when we have power we find ourselves using it to better ourselves. We take power of granted or use it for our advantage. Some people would say it’s “Human nature.” Power is when you have authority or control over things. Many times when power is given to the wrong person things are ruined. This is because when people have power they think about what they want and not about other people's opinion. Frequently people with power think they are better than everyone else and always know what's right. There are many times in history when power influenced or created destruction. Innocent people can be manipulated by authorities and forced into doing something that they have no desire doing. This is common pattern in history. For example Hitler was given power and created a government that killed more than 6 million innocent people. This was a prime example that when power is given to the wrong person destruction is the product. In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury shows that when power is given to the wrong people, destruction is often the outcome. After there is destruction, you have to build up from what you have left.

When there are large powers in society, it is often to find that individuals hold an insignificant amount of power against them. The society described by Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451, clearly demonstrates this idea as the larger powers at play hold supreme power over helpless individuals. Published in 1953 around times of the Cold war and McCarthyism, the novel reflects Ray Bradbury’s personal concerns towards individuality through the means of consumerism and conformity. In the novel, knowledge is known to cause individuality. Individuality allows people to think, to form their own opinions, beliefs and personal values which threatens governmental social and political structures. When we are introduced to individuals who attempt to disregard

In the novel Fahrenheit 451: The Hearth and the Salamander Ray Bradbury discusses about how easily people are influenced by others through Montag's case. Living in a world of entertainment, Montag was blessed with a job as a fireman, in which he is in charge of burning up books. However, after a small chat with Clarisse, Montag began to view the world differently. Bradbury uses characterization to emphasize this change. In addition, the author utilizes the literary element flashback and conflict to demonstrate Montag's astonishment to the cold society after he was enlightened by Clarisse.

“He turned the corner. The autumn leaves blew over the moonlit pavement in such a way as to make a girl who was moving there seem fixed to a sliding walk letting the motion of the wind and leaves carry her forward” (Bradbury 5). The firefighter, Guy Montag is a normal guy like everyone else until one person changed everything and her name is Clarisse McClellan. “I’m seventeen and crazy” (Bradbury 7). She realizes something that Montag doesn’t soon that crazy does not sound so crazy after all. She asked the questions that have never been asked before she has seen what no one has seen before. In Ray Bradbury story Fahrenheit 451 Clarisse McClellan changed the actions of Montag the theme and the main character, Montag.

Individuality and sameness are a big part of everyday society. Ray Bradbury speaks of both in the story Fahrenheit 451 where almost everyone is the same except for a few people. Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a sci-fi fantasy that shows the individuality and sameness in humanity using literary devices.

The lack of personality in society is also prevalent in Fahrenheit 451. Everyone in the society has almost been trained to act and think a certain way. This then creates a generic personality; one where no one is able to think for themselves or separate themselves from others in the society. In the beginning of the story, Montag is content with everything in his life; however, when he meets seventeen year old Clarisse his thought process begins to bring doubts that something is wrong in the civilization. By the end of the text, Montag is able to show that once his journey as an avid reader begins he not only is able to gain an increase in knowledge and imagination, but he is also learning to act and think on his own.

In today’s world, society creates a standard that defines what will make an individual happy whether it be money, beauty, success, etc. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 happiness is a matter of ignorance and submission to what the culture deems is acceptable. Individualism is a sin and society in this novel attacks any person willing to remove themselves from the mindless, zombie-like state that is expected in this dystopian community. Guy Montag, a former fireman, challenges the status quo and faces the consequences when he does not conform the standards all citizens must follow.

We are slowly killing ourselves. It’s true, we are as a species starting to conform to social standards, are agreeing to lose our individuality, our very personhood. We are killing the most important thing in our lives, our uniqueness. Throughout the book Fahrenheit 451 we see a civilization that has killed uniqueness and Bradbury develops his pessimistic tone towards the process of losing our uniqueness through this setting. Bradbury uses simple language, strong diction, and vivid imagery to show his tone.