Theme Of Freedom In Fahrenheit 451

In modern day society people don’t realize that a lot of knowledge is given through books. Thomas Jefferson once said, “Knowledge is power, that knowledge is safety, and that knowledge is happiness.” This goes particularly well with this book because the people in the society do not have knowledge and obviously aren’t happy, this way of life is demonstrated by Mildred. Montag realizes throughout his journey that there needs to be emotions to be happy. Montag and Mildred gradually separate through the whole of the novel. In the early parts of the novel, Mildred and Montag seem to live similar lives. Each day Montag leaves work feeling carefree. He walks “toward the corner, thinking little at all about nothing in particular” (Bradbury 2). When Montag walks home, he thinks of “nothing in particular” because he does not worry about his job or anything else going on around him. He is relatively content. At this point, Montag does not read books; instead, he burns them and loves his job. He also doesn’t question his happiness. Similarly, Mildred lives her life without dealing with difficult situations and appears happy. The morning after she attempts suicide, she has “both ears plugged with electronic bees that [are] humming the hour away” (16). She wakes up after a traumatic emergency and makes herself

On page 63 the reader finds out that Montag has been storing books in his air ventilator, keeping them from Mildred. “[Montag] also read a dozen pages” which shows how he has changed in ways that are wrongful. But yet Montag has taken the step forward and questioned his society, while no one else did. Mildred represents those who don’t question society because personally she doesn’t investigate. Mildred shows no compassion, no love, and most importantly no happiness. After Montag shows Mildred his books, he thinks he can trust her with this