Fahrenheit 451 Hound Analysis

I was confused when Mildred consumed all of the sleeping pills because the next morning she had no recognition about her suicide attempt. Wouldn’t someone remember taking thirty sleeping pills? Also, when Montag tells her about the night before, Mildred replies, “Oh, I wouldn’t do that.” (13). What’s even more disturbing is that the men who came to help her say that they often have these suicide “cases” (13). This leads me to believe that not everyone is as happy as they say they are. An example of this is when Montag realizes that he is not truly happy and that he “wore his happiness like a mask” (9). I think that the book takes place in a dystopian society.

I think the Hound symbolizes government control. Traditionally, dogs, or “hounds”, are used to help firefighters. In the novel however, the Hound is used for malicious purposes. In fact, almost every night the firefighters watch the Hound kill animals for entertainment (29). The Hound is also used for eliminating citizens who do not abide to the rules. For example, when Montag is talking to Beatty about Clarisse's

disappearance, Beatty seems happy that Clarisse is gone, and states that “the poor girl’s better off dead” (58). Beatty also says that they were watching Clarisse’s family closely (57). I think that the Hound, which is used to get rid of uncooperative citizens, may have something to do with Clarisse’s death.

I think it is unusual that the book says that “Beatty wanted to die” (116).

Throughout the book, Beatty is a malicious fireman authority and often has positive reactions to things such as Clarisse’s death (58). Why is he depressed? In the beginning of the novel, Montag thinks that he is happy with his job and life as a fireman (1-2). However, after talking to Clarisse, he realizes that he is not happy. I think that since Clarisse helped Montag to observe the world around him and see what was actually going on, Guy was “enlightened” by Clarisse. I think that since Beatty is in a role of authority, he knows about the dystopian society they live in and is already “enlightened”. This must mean that for a long time Beatty has felt the same way Montag has since talking to Clarisse. But instead of attempting to change things like Montag, Beatty chooses to play along and enforce the rules

instead.

I feel that it is disturbing that the car “full of children” tried to kill Montag (122). I thought that the book had never mentioned children being so wild and murderous, but then I remember Clarisse telling Montag about how kids her age kill each other (27). Montag notices that if he had been an “upright target” instead of a flat target, the car would have killed him. The car meant to kill Montag, but the possible danger of the car flipping over when Montag fell was the only motive that the drivers had not to run Montag over (122). How could a society allow children to do such things? Also, Clarisse mentions how the schools “runs kids ragged” and by the end of the day they go around and do wild things. I think that this connects to the idea about how not everyone in the novel is happy. To keep themselves busy, these teenagers and kids go around and destroy property, bully each other, and even murder people.

The society in the novel reminds me of society today. For example, Clarisse explains about how everyone always “says the same things and nobody says anything different from anyone else” (28). People today are usually afraid to stand out from the crowd and be different. Also, Mildred sends a lot of time watching the TV (18). Today, people spend a lot of time glued to the TV and computer. Also, in the novel, books are banned and the general public does not seem to miss them. Nowadays, people are too busy to read books for enjoyment. A lot of people turn to the TV or computer for entertainment, just like in Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury takes our own society and warps it into the worst case scenario.