Fahrenheit 451

Alienation in society “Alienation is the process by which the human self externalizes itself and then encounters another being that is contrastive to the actual being” (Hegal 1959). In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, alienation plays a key role throughout the novel and is shown to be the cause of Montag's rebellion. Montag's isolation from society originated from interactions with Clarisse and Mildred. Since Clarisse had always been alienated from society, her relationship with Montag helped show him a different view of their society and shed light on all the thoughts he had suppressed, illustrating how one can be blinded by what is going on and needs someone to help them in a corrupt society.

Montag has been blinded by the reality of society

When Montag and Clarisse hang out “she put the dandelion under his chin” and tells him “You’re not in love with anyone” (Bradbury, 22). This gets Montag upset at the moment but causes him to realize that what she said was the truth and that his love for Mildred is one-sided. When conversing with Clarisse, she mentions to Montag “I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each other, too. Did it always use to be that way” (Bradbury, 30). Clarisse's thoughts lead Montag to question society and the way life used to be. Clarisse brings light to Montag's boring life and genuinely makes him happy and experience emotions like curiosity. Montag starts to further think about life and all these thoughts cause him to question society and reality. Clarisse further adds to his configuration with society when telling him that “They didn’t want people.talking; that was the wrong kind of social life. People talk too much about it. And they had time to think” (Bradbury, 63). Ray Bradbury uses Clarisse to demonstrate an outlier in society, which, helps Montag come to his senses about the reality of society. Clarisse gets Montag to further question the thoughts he had so long suppressed and eventually leads to his

Stating “I suddenly realized I didn’t like them at all, and I didn’t like myself at all anymore” (Bradbury, 67). Montag comes to the realization of how, deep down, he never liked society and hates that he conformed to corrupt ways just so that he could fit in. Ray Bradbury uses Montag's realization to further illustrate how Montag was no longer afraid to be alienated from society and came to accept it. Montag goes on to interact with others who are isolated from society, like Faber, to gain more knowledge and information about books. Faber tells him that “yet somehow we think we can grow, feeding on flowers and fireworks, without completing the cycle back to reality” (Bradbury, 83). Montag's meeting with Faber leads him to rebel against society and helps him to break free through his escape. Ray Bradbury showcases how Montag's feelings of alienation lead him to leave the place in which he doesn’t feel welcome or happy. “Someday the load we’re carrying with us may help someone” (Bradbury,