Burning Similarities In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Howell Alex

Mr. Kim

EL2 PERIOD 1A

18 JANUARY 2023

Burning Similarities

Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, has several similarities to our own world. The world of Fahrenheit 451 does not give time for a person to do anything. Their world does not even let anyone do something as simple and taking the time to think. For example, In Clarisse’s first appearance she gives a very literal example of how fast they take to travel “If you showed a driver a green blur, Oh yes! he’d say, that’s grass!” (20). As Clarisse explains, most people in this world do not even know the world outside of blobs that fly by in the car. While people know their surroundings they don’t take the time to take them in. They even extended their billboards

For example, They ignore those who bring serious questions. “You laugh when I haven’t been funny and you answer right off. You never stop to think what I’ve asked you.” (20) Clarisse wanted to get Montag to listen and think before replying so that Montag would have better communication with her. While Montag during this talk slowly started paying more and more attention, Clarisse said that some firemen would be rude to her if she asked them any of what she talks to Montag about. In the real world, they struggle with communication almost as bad as Fahrenheit 451’s world. People decide to ignore serious questions and laugh it off and try to wait until the last moment to finally answer certain questions or never tell them. In addition, Millie could not give her own husband her full focus “She was an expert at lip reading from ten years of apprenticeship at Seashell ear-thimbles. She nodded again.” (30). Mildred had been shielding herself from the world for so long that she learned how to read lips. People see this in reality a lot today, people will check out of conversations and pretend to listen while ignoring and blocking them out. Furthermore, Clarisse is happy when Montag starts to actually think before he replies.“When I talk, you look at me. When I said something about the moon, you looked at the moon last night. The others would never do That.” (36). Communication is so bad that when

For example, It is pretty obvious that in this world people don’t express their feelings as much. “Later, going to sleep, he would feel the fiery smile still gripped by his face muscles, in the dark. It never went away, that smile, it never ever went away, as long as he remembered.” (15). Emotions are a huge can of worms that forces everyone to think and go into areas in their mind that they would be uncomfortable trying to work through and solve. Instead of feeling their emotions they often put on a smile or a mask to pretend that they are okay when they need help. They also mask their emotions quite a bit, whether it's not wanting to bother others with their own emotions or fearing the people around them might use their troubles against them. They hide their emotions from those around them in hard masks that only a build up of stress could break. In addition, Montag became anxious and close to a breakdown when Faber helped Montag with these encouraging words, “You’re afraid of making mistakes. Don’t be. Mistakes can be profited by.” (119). Montag was afraid that if he made even the smallest mistake he would shatter their whole plan and cause the death of those he loves and cares for. Despite telling each other that mistakes are okay to make, several people take every mistake as a wound that can not be completely healed and it can make a person break even if it is