Examples Of Conformity In Fahrenheit 451

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Michael Zhao Introduction To Literature 12/18/2023 Conformity's Clutch: Numbing the Soul in Fahrenheit 451 What happens to a society where individualism is no longer valued and conformity to the prevailing norms is the highest social value? An extreme example of such oppressive conformity is the society in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In this dystopian American society, the citizens are kept in a condition of passive, sheeplike conformity through the constant stimulation of mass media, such as the "parlor walls" (giant TV screens) and the "seashells" (or earbuds), via which the citizens listen to official radio news. These forms of mass control, in turn, leave the citizens no room for individualized thoughts, leading them to numb their real …show more content…

They are all rendered senseless by the amount of stimulation technology provides. For instance, the people are so senseless that they overdose on drugs daily, as displayed when Montag was talking to the people who were helping Mildred after her overdose. The text states, “We get these cases nine or ten a night” (Bradbury 13). This quote presents the citizens as callous automatons, little more than the Hound. These individuals experience a semblance of happiness while remaining emotionally hollow. Thus, the symbolism of the Hound proves that conformity leads to emotional emptiness by presenting the Hound in a way that mirrors the people of society. Conformity prompts them to be unfeeling and play with life and death. This behavior closely mirrors the Hound, who is indifferent about life and death and feels no emotions. Conformity plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of the future dystopian America depicted in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Some individuals succumb to conformity, trading their genuine emotions and individuality for the false happiness technology provides. Mildred epitomizes this conformist path, becoming emotionally empty and closely resembling the Hound—a heartless killing machine devoid of genuine emotions. In contrast, Clarrise and Montag reject conformity, questioning the system and delving into the "whys," ultimately attaining emotional completeness. Bradbury's message is clear: excessive social conformity leads to emotional emptiness. In a society where individualism is devalued and conformity prevails, there is a risk of stifling creativity, diversity, and critical thinking, resulting in a numb and indifferent society resistant to

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