Fahrenheit 451 Technology Analysis

Technology’s Creates Laziness and Dependency In the world today, people are likely to use extensive amounts of technology in their day-to-day lives. Imagine being stuck in what seems to be the middle of nowhere. The initial response most are compelled to is to pick up their phone to find directions. But what if, the phone is dead or the GPS does not work? Now what? Studies have shown that only 55% of the drivers in the United States own an atlas map. Only 45% know how to use them. Therefore, people are so dependent on their electronics that they do not realize what might happen if their source of technology was not present in a worst case scenario. In the same way, the citizens of Fahrenheit 451 are very dependent of their devices to do tasks

To solve this problem, people should limit their use of electronics in their lives and communicate more. The world today uses technology for some pointless jobs. When Montag wakes up the morning after Mildred’s unsuccessful suicide attempt, he finds her bed empty. He runs down the stairs to find her with the seashells in her ears at full volume. “Toast pop[s] out of the silver toaster, [is] seized by the metal hand that drenches it with melted butter” (Bradbury 16). People in this society are so lazy that even buttering toast requires use of machinery. Society is also becoming underactive. For example, Mildred watches television all day. Whenever Montag comes home, “the walls were always talking to [her]” (42). This means she

When Montag is being chased across town, he has a seashell in his ear that explains the hunt for Montag. The seashell hums, ““...watch for a man running… watch for a man running… watch for a man alone, on foot… watch…”” (118). This community functions in a way that no one actually goes on walks anymore. If people were to do things like going outside rather than using the amount of technology that they do, they would be substantially healthier. People are also lacking in social skills because of technology. For instance, Clarisse lives a very abnormal life in her society, but in our society talking to family members is normal. Montag notices Clarisse's interactions with her family and finds their conversations “...relaxed, hearty, and not forced in any way…” (14). Montag is so used to minimal interactions and isolation that seeing Clarisse’s family, makes him rethink his relationship with Mildred. If Mildred did not hog up the TV and took her seashells out, Montag could actually have decent conversation with her. Technology is ruining relationships too. KQED News reports that “[a]ccording to a research study of 2,025 people that was released [recently], nine out of 10 participants said that, at least once a week, friends or relatives stop paying attention to them because they’d rather check out what’s happening on their digital devices” ( Yollin 3). On the