One quote struck a lot of different, yet related thoughts in me. On page 52 of Fahrenheit 451, Montag says something like, "We need to be really bothered once in while..." If we aren't bothered by anything or if nothing moves us, how can we differenciate between the important and the unimportant? How can you know if something is worth fighting for? This ties into pages 59-61. Their society takes away conflict by taking away knowledge and the ability to think for themselves. This way, no opinions will offend or bother anyone. These people think ignorance is bliss, which isn't always the case. Montag, like Clarisse and the old woman, is starting to realize, through critical thinking, that happiness doesn't always come from ignoring things. In this case, ignorance equals mindless pleasures. Mildred, for example, surrounds herself with her t.v. "family" and her "seashells" to escape her true thoughts. I believe these thoughts, deep down, have something to do with avoiding her un-relationship with Montag. Mildred and Beatty, along with what seems like the rest of society, are alike in thinking that when the mind isn't thinking (sorry, redundant), they are happier. The heads of this society obviously think this is the most efficient, painless solution (pg 61-"If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to question, give him one...) So, if they don't think about the violence or the wars going on, or express the opinions that might offend someone, they lead happier lives, right? I personally think this isn't true, even though that seems to be the popular vote in this book. The same happens with Montag. He just realizes that ignorance doesn't equal bliss, but just limits him. A good example of this was how Montag was always looking forward to seeing Clarisse because he actually learned to THINK while he was with her!! So the moral of my rant, supported by the content of this book, is to not go through life not thinking and just ignoring, but realizing that the more you think and express yourself in a healthy way, the more truly happy you are.
The End.
:)
Linzey, I think you absolutely nailed this. While I was reading your post I thought about the scene with the old women. I think we can all agree that she was not ignorant; she was trying to fight the mindless pleasures being thrown at her right up to the very end. What she did, her martyrdom for her books and culture, brings up the question in all of us: What are we willing to die for? or even better, what do we have that's worth living for? The number of suicides in this society is astounding yet everyone claims to be in this Utopian world of blissful ignorance. I think that because these people have no way (no desire?) to express themselves as individuals, they are not happy and have found, deep inside, that they do not have anything truly worth living for.
ReplyDelete