Happiness And Discontentment In Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, explores the themes of happiness and discontentment through the protagonist Guy Montag and his journey throughout the book. The novel is set in a dystopian society where books are banned, and the government controls the minds of the citizens through censorship and manipulation. The people, however, willingly submit themselves to superficial pleasures, such as virtual reality and hard drugs. The conflict between happiness and discontentment mostly is a recurring theme throughout the book, as the characters struggle to find fulfillment in their lives.

At the beginning of the novel, Guy Montag is a contented fireman who takes pleasure in burning books. On page 1, Montag states “It was a pleasure to burn.”

The government promotes a false sense of happiness by limiting access to books and controlling the media. On page 55, Beatty says “...It did not come from the government down. There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with no!” Beatty describes how the people chose the government to rule them. Instead of worrying what will happen to them, they would rather enjoy their simple pleasures. The people stick to their screens and pills. Every aspect of the people’s lives are controlled by the government, but they willingly accept this. The people in this society are constantly distracted by technology, and they are unable to think for themselves. They are content with their lives, but they really are not truly happy. The government in Fahrenheit 451 promotes a sense of happiness that is based on instant gratification and superficial pleasures. This is evident in the character of Mildred, Montag's wife, who is severely addicted to technology and spends her days watching television programs and overdosing on sleeping pills. She is content with her life, but she is not truly happy. She is unhappy and unfulfilled, but she is unable to really recognize it because she has been conditioned to believe that happiness comes from simple material possessions and mindless