Fahrenheit 451 Quote Analysis

Although there are many definitions to explain what knowledge specifically is, it never fails to contradict ignorance. The dystopian society that Ray Bradbury creates in Fahrenheit 451 is ignorant to the vast amount of knowledge that is present in the world. This is partially the fault of the government which enforces the burning of books, but the people are also to blame. They choose to believe that “ignorance is bliss”. In contrast, “If ignorance is bliss, there should be more happy people,” (Victor Cousin). The society does not know what true happiness is but Bradbury introduces Clarisse in the beginning of the novel who reveals to the main character, Guy Montag, the idea that there is more to the meaning of happiness than most of the world currently realizes. In Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag’s mind is exposed to the possibility of something more, the power of knowledge, and he devotes himself to exposing the power and happiness that is stored in books to those in society who are oblivious. Bradbury creates an unfortunate society that is blind to the amount of knowledge that the world holds. According to Aldous Huxley,

Clarisse asks Montag, “Are you happy?” and makes Montag question his own happiness, which sparks his desire to search for what can make one “happy”. Books are able to make a person in the society happy as well as give them other emotions at times. Happiness comes from the ability to think freely and ponder on ideas. Books promote passion by informing the society about its issues, which members in society can dedicate themselves to fixing. The society Montag is part of contains few people capable of having diversified thoughts. Now knowing this, Montag is driven to make knowledge, happiness, and passion available to society as it once