In every dystopian society, individuals often believe they are content, yet beneath the surface lies a profound discontent fueled by misinformation and control. This theme was evident in works like Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury) and The Truman Show (Peter Weir), as well as in real-life studies such as the one discussed in "More Facebook Friends, Fewer Real Ones, Says the Cornell Study(ABC). In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, the illusion of happiness was shattered when protagonist Montag discovered the emptiness of his existence. Initially, he accepted the societal narrative that books are harmful, but his curiosity led him to defy this notion and explore the forbidden knowledge within them. This was found throughout the site. “You must understand that our …show more content…
Don’t we give them fun? That’s all we live for, isn’t it? For pleasure or for titillation? And you must admit that our culture provides many of these.” (Bradbury 56). Through Montag's journey, it became clear that the supposed happiness propagated by the government was merely a facade to maintain control over the people. Similarly, in The Truman Show, the eponymous character Truman Burbank lived within a meticulously crafted reality where every aspect of his life was controlled for the entertainment of others. Truman's awakening to the artificiality of his world parallels Montag's realization in Fahrenheit 451. This is clearly evident when “I know I'm not crazy; it's the world that has gone mad" (Weir). Truman's pursuit of truth and genuine human connection reflects a deep-seated discontent with the manufactured happiness imposed upon him. Moreover, real-world studies such as the Cornell study on social media's impact on relationships highlight how superficial connections can masquerade as genuine happiness. Despite the illusion of social connectivity provided by platforms like Facebook, many individuals lack meaningful relationships, leaving them feeling isolated and