Theme Of Alienation In Fahrenheit 451

In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, alienation is a prominent theme throughout the novel. The alienation and isolation of the protagonist Guy Montag reveals the dystopian society’s false assumptions of knowledge and blasphemous moral values. The ever present sense of separation associated with Montag occurs both within himself, with his wife, and with society altogether.

When Montag experiences alienation within himself, he questions his own self significance as he separates himself from the uniform customs of his society. As he is speaking to Clarisse, he suddenly “...felt his body divide itself… the two halves grinding one upon the other” (21). Montag is confused about his identity, which causes the isolation within himself. He distances

himself from his own hands, blaming them for his evil actions, not his mind. Then, as Montag escapes to the river, “He tossed his own clothing into the river and watched it swept away” (133). Montag is symbolically cleansing himself of his old being, fully alienating the old from the new.

Montag's alienation becomes more apparent in his exchanges with Clarisse McClellan. He starts to realize how lonely he is when she asks him if he is happy. He wonders to himself, "How do you get so empty?” (41). Montag becomes aware that his and Mildred's illusion of happiness, the textbook love that is part of their societal norm, is not real. Their affection for each other has resided to merely surface level. This realization for the lack of endearment reveals isolation from his wife and personal loneliness.

Montag’s alienation elevates to being separated from his spouse to being separated from society altogether. He tells Faber, “Nobody listens anymore. I can’t talk to the walls because they’re yelling at me.” (78) Montag is in the middle of a perfect storm, where he feels everyone and everything is against him, even the walls, the TV “family”. This again enunciates Montag’s isolation. Technology is replacing true emotions and interjecting automatons as a substitute.