The Use Of Conformity In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury created a fictional society in which the people only want to be happy. No one wants to offend and no one wants to get offended. To achieve this “bliss” their government has used technology to block out reality, to create a world of denial, and to provide endless, mind mushing entertainment. “[Bradbury] is unable, however, to support the idea that technology itself causes people to abandon independent thought in favor of simple conformity.” (McGiveron, 1996) Bradbury never proves technology is what destroyed intellectual thought, but the people in charge of mass communication. Bradbury is warning us that technology can be a conductor for mass exploitation.

Technology allows for the existence of mass culture in the novel, and minority pressure helps enforce

Mass exploitation is the main reason for the removal of thought in all societies. It clearly affects everyone in their society: “Montag’s wife, given over to drugs and mindless television” (Johnson, 1980); Montag, changed from a machine to an Intellectual Hobo; Clarisse, untouched and observed the effects of unhappiness and oppression on a culture; Beatty, only having his knowledge and pride that murdered him. Bradbury uses these characters to warn of the troubles our society is facing now. While the “antimachine and antiwar elements” (Johnson, 1980) are present as a warning; they are not the main character. Having these undertones in the novel, only adds to the overall meaning of Fahrenheit 451. “The real possibility that modern culture may eradicate itself in nuclear war” (Watt, 1980) is something Bradbury wants to shine a light on. Technology abuse, drug abuse, and the abuse of happiness is something Bradbury highlights as warnings. All of these concepts are bundled with mass exploitation. It is something that affects us now and will continue to affect us until more people like Bradbury stand up and fight