Fahrenheit 451 Freedom Essay

In The United States of America, freedom is an undeniable right granted to all citizens. However, in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the idea of an American future without freedom of thought is explored in depth. The primary way that freedom of thought is restricted in the novel is through the American government’s ban on literature. The ban arose from the enticing nature of new technology and the challenging ideas and controversy that arose from books, controversy that offended minorities. Guy Montag, the central character, feels the affect of a life without freedom through his constant internal struggle on whether he is satisfied with his life of material pleasures or if he longs to formulate intellectual ideas. Unlike Montag, most

people in this dystopian society believe that they are content with their lives, as their minds are subdued by unchallenging activities such as television, sports, and other forms of entertainment. However, murder and suicide continually rise throughout the novel, indicating that the citizens of this dystopian society are truly discontented. In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury displays the importance of intellectual freedom through the dissatisfaction and unawareness of the main characters and of society.
While most citizens of Bradbury’s dystopian society find immediate pleasure in the life that has been given to them, the excessive amount of violence that occurs daily demonstrates how people are truly discontented with their existence. The murder rate in Fahrenheit 451 is extremely high. Citizens drive their cars at such high speeds that grass is only a green blur and there is no time to contemplate, formulate individualistic ideas, or to wonder about the world. Killing animals while driving or causing accidents are seen as ordinary events that are good ways to release frustration. Driving fast offers instant pleasure that momentarily allows for people forget about their oppressed lives. Clarisse, a young girl who exhibits true happiness through her intellectual thinking, provides insight into violence among her materialistic and unhappy classmates. “They kill each other. Did it always used to be that way? … Six of my friends have been shot in the last year alone. Ten of them died in car wrecks. … My uncle says his grandfather remembered when children didn't kill each other. But that was a long time ago when they had things different” (Bradbury 30). Through this statement, Clarisse communicates to readers how society has become progressively more reckless and murderous as more freedom is stripped from the citizens (McGiveron 118). Clearly, there is a link between violence and freedom due to the fact that people were less violent long ago when there was more freedom of thought. Violence provides an outlet for individuals to release their angers about the rules that limit their ability to have substantial thoughts.
Along with the high rates of homicide, suicide is another way that individuals can escape from their lives of dissatisfaction and material goods.

When Mildred Montag, Guy Montag’s seemingly happy wife, attempts suicide, it becomes evident that people who appear satisfied with television and mindless activities are still inherently depressed and frustrated with their lives. Unknowingly, these citizens crave what every person desires: the freedom to make choices, challenge ideas, and think about topics deeply and meaningfully. This idea is expanded upon when Mildred’s doctors tell Montag, “We get these cases nine or ten times a night” (Bradbury 13). Mildred is not the only individual dissatisfied with her lack of knowledge and freedom, but many other also attempt to commit suicide to escape their life of material satisfaction. Clearly, people crave for more in their lives besides television and sports. They crave knowledge and freedom of thought, and without these two necessities, individuals feel frustrated and unhappy (Smolla). The power of these emotions leads to the infliction of violent acts, as well as a generally more discontented

society.
The absence of thought provoking literature also fosters people’s unawareness about the world around them.

Since the government controls what the people watch on television and read in magazines, information is usually unreliable and is tailored to entertain the citizens. News provides no stimulating ideas and offers information that people want to hear, not essential news that causes fear or controversy (Seed 83). The sound of bomber jets fill the air everyday, yet Mildred and her friends talk about how the upcoming war will be quick and easy, lasting about forty-eight minutes. Montag, frustrated with the obliviousness that exists in society, proclaims, “Every hour so many damn things in the sky! Why doesn’t someone want to talk about it! We’ve started and won two atomic wars since 1990! Is it because we’re having so much fun at home we’ve forgotten the world?” (Bradbury 73). This statement displays how people are so engrossed in their mindless television that worldly issues seem trivial, when in reality, it must be the other way around (Seed 84). Towards the end of Fahrenheit 451, a lack of knowledge about the world leads to the demise of Mildred and many other uninformed citizens. They are bombed in a war that was, according to the news, supposed to be quick and painless. Bradbury uses the bombing as a tool to teach readers that unawareness from a lack of literature leads to death and

destruction.
In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag provides a glimpse into the dissatisfaction that arises from a lack of individuality and freedom. While Montag starts out satisfied with his life of material pleasure, he soon realizes the discontentment that lies deep within him. In the beginning of the novel, Montag takes pride in his job as a fireman, which involves burning down the houses of intellectuals who own books instead of putting out fires. Montag states, “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (Bradbury 1). However, the drastic change in the way that Motang views his life originates when he meets a young girl named Clarisse. Clarisse enjoys spending time in nature and seeking out knowledge, which marks her as the antithesis of the societal norm. Nonetheless, Clarisse is truly happy due to the fact that she allows herself time to think about life and formulate opinions about certain topics, which most people in society do not attempt to do (Watt 24). Clarisse continually asks Montag if he is happy with his life the same way that she is happy with her own. The more that Montag thinks about his life as a fireman, the regulations he lives under, and his longing to read in order to feel freedom of thought, the more he becomes frustrated. Although Clarisse never tells Montag to oppose the society that he lives in, she opens the door for him to challenge his previous beliefs about what life is truly about, having the access to knowledge and freedom (Smolla 898). Clarisse’s words and actions teach Montag, “To be aware of life- or the lack of it- around him” (Watt 23). Clarisse is important to the novel because without her, Montag would have never questioned how dissatisfied he is with his job, his life, and society.
Montag’s realization about his misery escalates even more after his wife’s attempted suicide and his continual meetings with Clarisse. He tries to wrap his mind around why he feels unhappy, not recognizing that his emotions that are linked to his lack of freedom. “I don't know what it is. I'm so damned unhappy, I'm so mad, and I don't know why I feel like I'm putting on weight. … I might even start reading books. … Happiness is important. Fun is everything. And yet I kept sitting there saying to myself, I'm not happy, I'm not happy” (Bradbury 64). With this statement in mind, Guy makes the choice to illegally read a book, thinking that this book would give him instant satisfaction. What Montag does not first realize, however, is that simply reading a book does not cause immediate pleasure. Contentment comes from taking the information that is gleaned from a novel and creating an intellectual idea about a certain topic. It also comes from the freedom to be able to stop and think for a moment about what message that literature displays. Perhaps literature does cause for certain minority groups to be left out or neglected, but literature offers what mindless television shows do not, the power to think critically about certain topics (McGiveron 115). When Guy Montag finally finds the courage to defy the laws put in place, he recognizes why he feels unhappy and what he needs to do in order to create a happier world for himself and others.
Towards the end of the novel, Montag attempts to change the restrictions on freedom. His plan involves the eradication of firemen from society. During the execution of this plan, Montag becomes a criminal, as he murders fellow firefighters. With the government searching relentlessly for Montag, he flees, travelling to the forest in the outskirts of the city. In the seemingly barren woodland, Montag discovers other men who are devoted to the memorization of certain novels and the reintroduction of literature into society. Montag and the men are very quickly able to set out to begin their purpose of creating a new society through the city’s destruction during the war bombing. Although Montag does not outwardly display emotions of joy, he finally feels content with his life. He feels as though his life has purpose and meaning. Guy, along with individuals who were able to emerge from the ashes of the war, will no longer experience a restriction of freedom. They will experience the rebirth of a new society, one of less violence and more knowledge due to the reintroduction of literature (Smolla). Finally, people will be able to experience the true happiness that comes from the freedom to think critically about ideas presented in literature.
In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury teaches readers the importance of freedom, specifically freedom of individualized thought. The day that freedom is eradicated from American society is the day that citizens lose pleasure and individuality. Violence, ignorance, and dissatisfaction arise in the absence of freedom, as displayed in the character Guy Montag as well as the general population in the novel. Bradbury also teaches readers that it is imperative to challenge ideas that are presented, to form opinions on topics, and to read in order to formulate certain mindsets. It is only then that people are able to live happy and rewarding lives. Freedom, an undeniable human right, must never be compromised. If it is, then individuals must remember Guy Montag’s recognition of his dissatisfaction and his choice to break free of the bonds of the oppressive laws of government.