How Does The Government Use Fear In Fahrenheit 451

The fire department and the United States Government used fear to help control the citizens' perspective, minds, and lives to help them create peace of mind and happiness in society. In the first example, Montag had just had a serious conversation with Captain Beatty about books, and how firemen naturally had the curiosity to try to open and read a book. This conversation led to Captain Beatty asking Montag if he was going to work the night shift, but Montag was not sure he wanted to go. Montag started walking and was thinking about a conversation he had with Clarisse in which she mentioned something about her uncle telling her a story of why houses now don’t have porches. In the novel it says, “the real reason, hidden underneath, might be

So they ran off with porches” (Bradbury 60). Another example in the passage above says, “if you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war”(Bradbury 58) The U.S. Government uses their power to instill fear in certain things like social outtings with people or even allowing people to have a moment on their own because that means they are constantly thinking about something new or something that the government is trying to prevent. In addition to the U.S. Government using their power, the fire department also abused their power and control over information to instill fear into society. In this second example, Montag was speaking to Mildred about how he wanted to kill something because he had an itch to get off of him. Eventually Montag mentions he might start reading because he thought he was going insane. After he says that, he shows Mildred his secret hiding space in which he hid 20 books and was trying to calm down Mildred and explain to her everything that he was thinking when he took them. In the novel it says, “that woman, the other night, Millie, you weren’t