Consider this perspective: going through the day surrounded by screens, technology, and overall entertainment to keep one satisfied, what more could an individual desire? This notion brings to light many key questions, primarily what it means to be happy. Happy is such a vague term and in our contemporary world, many mediums exist through which the state of happiness can be achieved. However, as the production of mass media and its industries grows, the definition of happiness has become more specific and embodied as one key category. This concept was brilliantly crafted into the 1953 dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is set in a dystopian America in which all books have been banned and the primary role …show more content…
Despite having access to endless entertainment, suicide and drug use runs rampant across the country. During the beginning of the book, Montag returns home to find his wife having an overdose. In a state of panic, he manages to call dispatchers to treat her, to which they tell him, “We get these cases nine or ten a night. Got so many, starting a few years ago.” (Page 13). This quote shows the way in which happiness and the production of mass media are inversely proportionate. As the production of mass media in the world of Fahrenheit 451 increases over the years, general happiness decreases. Although the population has been made to feel that they are happy, this has caused a fundamental sense of desolation as they do not have a care in the world regarding themselves. It is shown that happiness is decreasing as suicide rates are increasing, thus if the population was content then suicide rates would be decreasing. However, the healthcare workers Montag encounters state that suicides via sleeping pills are increasing, this shows that the illusion of happiness has fostered an underlying emptiness and to numb this sensation, drug use and suicide have increased. Additionally, the lack of intellectual stimulation has had a plethora of negative effects on the population. While walking home one evening, Montag encounters his eccentric neighbour Clarisse McClellan. Clarisse embodies the fears of society, she is an outspoken, curious girl, whereas the rest of society shy’s away from pondering their reality, Clarisse is fearless and questions everything. Montag is taken aback by her upfront personality and soon into their friendship he exclaims, “You think too many things.” (Page 6). This shows that Montag is put at unease in the face of Clarisse, who ponders the universe deeply. Clarisse stops to question what is