Society’s Alienation from Itself Whether an enrapturing TV program or a few hours spent in the “Car Wrecker place” destroying a car, these activities act as distractions. In a society where an infinite number of distractions exist, people are isolated from one another because of them. In Fahrenheit 451, people avoid acknowledging the existence of their own issues and are encouraged to participate in mindless activities to divert their attention from them. But, people fail to realize the detrimental and dangerous effect isolation has on society. The moment people hide away in their own worlds and block everyone and everything else out, they not only harm themselves, but they harm their relationships with others. By turning a blind eye to problems, …show more content…
Not only are they alienated from society, but they are alienated from those who care for them. Mildred’s isolation results in a distant and detached relationship with her husband, Montag. When Montag returns home after work, blackened and exhausted, Mildred remains attentively connected to her TV “family” (42). Then, at night, lying in her separate bed, Mildred listens to the radio with her seashells in her ears. Montag and Mildred lived together for 10 years and yet they never talk to each other, let alone converse about anything deep or significant. Communication is the foundation of any relationship, which is precisely what Montag and Mildred lack. Instead of speaking with her husband, Mildred happily tunes in with her family and herself. In contrast, Clarisse, unplugged from the electronic distractions, challenges Montag’s view of his relationship with three simple words: “Are you happy?” (10). At first, Montag is shocked that she would ask such a ridiculous question and when he arrives at his quiet home, he thinks to himself, “Of course I’m happy” (10). But when he finds Mildred unconscious on the floor of his bedroom, his confident reply to Clarisse’s question has vanished and he begins to see the deep and numerous cracks in the foundation of his relationship with his wife. He has no idea as to what happened and the only thing that leads him towards the conclusion that Mildred has overdosed are her sleeping pill bottles lying on the floor. Montag “feels his smile slide away, melt, and fold over” (12) as he realizes that he truly is not happy. After knowing Mildred for 10 years, Montag has no thought of why Mildred would attempt to kill herself and he assumes that she had accidentally taken too many pills (19). Only when the workers who specialize in dealing with patients who overdose arrive does Montag question his original thoughts. Then men explain to Montag how