Happiness is a complex idea that has been explored by philosophers and psychologists for years. In his work, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury proves that happiness is explored through the experiences of his characters. Bradbury presents a dystopian society where books are banned and free expression are suppressed. Through the eyes of Bradbury's critique of society, the novel goes into depth about what truly makes people happy, as well as the ways society often fails to provide for these needs.
One of the most interesting characters in the novel is Clarisse, a young woman who challenges the protagonists’(Montag) worldview and introduces him to new ideas. Clarisse is presented as a character who finds happiness in simple pleasures such as nature, books, and meaningful conversations. In comparison, the majority of society is shown as being consumed by superficial and meaningless distractions like television and entertainment. An example is
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Montag, the protagonist of the novel, finds happiness in reading and discovering new ideas. This pursuit of knowledge is compared with the mindless consumption of information that is encouraged by the government through the use of television and other forms of media. An example is when Montag tells Clarisse, "I'm antisocial, they say. I don't mix. It's so strange. I'm very social indeed. It all depends on what you mean by social, doesn't it?" (Pg, 27). This suggests that society's definition of what it means to be "social" has become distorted. Montag's comment about his perceived antisocial behavior suggests that he values meaningful social interactions over the mindless consumption of entertainment that is encouraged by society. Bradbury's critique of society is that it has become too focused on entertaining and distracting individuals rather than providing opportunities for a social and normal