"There are too many of us, he thought. There are billions of us and that's too many. Nobody knows anyone. Strangers come and violate you. Strangers come and cut your heart out..."
-Fahrenheit 451 / Montag's thoughts - p.16
The preceding quote was narrated based on what Montag was thinking after his wife overdosed on sleeping pills. What had initially caused him to think this was the apathetic and laid back manner in which the blood-machine operators conducted themselves. Although this quote was intended to describe the absent-minded technicians, I believe that this quote touches on what will be the main ideas of Fahrenheit 451. In my opinion, the futuristic society, as portrayed in this book, is completely controlled by government or a higher authority. It seems that citizens of this subordinate society are required to live the eventless lives that they do by law. The humdrum lives that those people live eventually caused the erosion of social lives and the slightest sense of a community. Montag has finally begun to think. He is identifying all of the things in life which he has been rushing past (with the help of Clarisse). These things include the color of grass, the size of billboards, and even the taste of rain. Hopefully, the rest of Fahrenheit 451 will reveal to us if one man's thoughts (Montag's) can have a widespread effect on the commonplace society which surrounds him.
3 comments:
Interesting thoughts... It doesn't take much for one person's thoughts to spread and have a positive effect on society - even in a fictional, dystopian one. You point out a significant idea from the book. As you read, ask yourself if Bradbury is more optimistic or pessimistic about where our society is headed.
Hey Matt,
You did a great job interpreting what Montag thinks about the society he is living in right now. Montag describes that he cannot connect with anyone around him, because no one stops to piece apart a situation or think about the impact of their society's elements. Like I said in other peoples' blog posts, it seems like Montag's world is hypnotized to only recognize the futuristic world in which they are living in. This is where Faber comes in, and I believe that he will play the role of helping Montag start to change society by helping him to understand what he reads. Do you think Faber will play this role also? Do you think the philosophies of the books will help Montag become more like Clarisse?
Hey matt
I completely agree with you. I believe that the people in this society live their lives the way they do because of the law. Like Mr. miller had said in class I think that the law is using threatening ideas like sending people to jail for reading books and then burning the books as scare tactics to make them fallow the laws. Also I believe that Clarrise has give Montag a mind of his own. She has made him aware of everyday things and made him start to ask questions and wonder. To answer the questions you asked me I think that Montag’s view on life and the community he is in is going to change. Nothing will be the same. He will probably try to do something to make the rest of the world realize what he has just learned and try to change them.
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