Examples Of Materialism In Fahrenheit 451

(AGG) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury conveys a message that Natalie Vellacott once explained; “The more things we accumulate, the more cluttered our lives become, and the more stressed we feel as we are compelled to think about them. Life is about people not things.” (BS-1) Ray Bradbury created a society that emphasizes the accumulation of materials. (BS-2) Hence, citizens in this society end up lacking real-life connections and relationships due to this materialism. (BS-3) Those who aren’t materialistic don’t lack real-life connections and relationships, but instead benefit from what they are surrounded with. (TS) Ray Bradbury’s warning to the readers is that valuing physical objects over others can deteriorate society.

(MIP-1): People

(STEWE-2): Montag recalls the time he lost a bet with the other firemen over what animal the Hound would kill first. As a result, he ”Lost a week's salary and faced Mildred’s insane anger”(Bradbury 22-23). If anyone is angry, it should be Montag — he is the one who lost the bet. However, Mildred turned furious as the lost money could have contributed to more items; Mildred needs more money in order to get more stuff. (SIP-B): People in this city are surrounded by advertisements and commercials that persuade them to buy more products. (STEWE-1): In the subway station on the way to Faber’s, Montag looks at his Bible and begins studying the lines on the pages. Suddenly, a loud advertisement for a brand of toothpaste makes its way through Montag’s head. He struggles to keep up with two things at once – the line from the Bible and “‘Dedham’s Dentrifice’” (Bradbury 74). Trying not to let it get to him, he thinks, “Consider the lilies of the field, shut up, shut up”(Bradbury 75). The inescapable

(SIP-A): Montag feels isolated from Mildred, as she is one of many materialistic people in this society. (STEWE-1): Montag and Mildred live very different lives – which sets them apart from each other. Montag wonders, ”Well, wasn’t there a wall between him and Mildred, When you came down to it? Literally not just one wall but, so far, three!” (Bradbury 41). Montag considers that he and Mildred are disconnected because the walls between them get in the way of their relationship. Since all Mildred is doing is getting more and more machines, there are fewer real-life connections and a lack of interaction in their marriage. (STEWE-2): Montag came home sick and asked Mildred to get him aspirin and water and turn down the parlor. Mildred did nothing. Montag then threw up on the rug, which caught her off guard. Mildred decided to ignore Montag and focus on the rug on the floor that he had just ruined. She remarked, “‘It’s a good thing the rug’s washable’” (Bradbury 47). Just like every other person in this society, Mildred is surrounded by things that can be fixed or replaced – which she claims is a “good thing”, showing how glorified materialism is in this society. Consequently, she does not take care of Montag and disregards him because she is too occupied with caring for another thing. (SIP-B): Moreover, Mrs. Bowels and Mrs. Phelps demonstrates society’s replaceable view of